Legitimate pollen transfer in one- and three-dimensional heterostylous species under different environmental conditions.
Novaes LR, Simón-Porcar V, Mazer SJ, Arroyo J.
Pollinators
Wild flax flowers blooming in dry Mediterranean scrub have quietly evolved two different strategies for avoiding inbreeding — and which one wins depends entirely on whether the right bee fly shows up that season.
Some flowering plants have evolved a clever trick: two flower types in the same population, one with its pollen high and its sticky receiver low, the other the opposite. This study compared a simple version of this system against a fancier 3D-twisted version in two wild flax species. The 3D design worked brilliantly at directing pollen to the right destination — but only when specialist bee flies were around to visit the flowers. The simpler design was less spectacular but reliably got the job done regardless of which insects showed up.
Key Findings
3D-heterostylous Linum suffruticosum achieved higher legitimate pollen transfer than 1D-heterostylous L. tenue, but only in populations dominated by specialist Usia bee flies (family Bombyliidae).
L. tenue showed consistently moderate legitimate pollen deposition and high reciprocity across all six populations regardless of pollinator community composition, suggesting independence from pollinator assemblage.
Frequent spontaneous self-pollination in L. tenue may reduce legitimate cross-pollination on its stigmas, potentially threatening the long-term stability of its two-morph polymorphism.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Flowers that position their pollen-producing and pollen-receiving parts in complex 3D arrangements attract more successful cross-pollination — but only when the right specialist pollinators are present. Simpler 1D flower arrangements proved more reliably consistent across different pollinator communities.
Abstract Preview
Distylous species have populations with two floral morphs bearing stigmas and anthers positioned reciprocally. This arrangement, assisted by the flower-pollinator fit, facilitates pollen deposition...
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Species Mentioned
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