Floral biology of Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. (Labiatae) [in the Rift Valley of central Kenya, coevolution with avian pollinators]

We describe characteristics of the flowers of the African weed Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. from the viewpoint of ornithologists interested in the ecology of nectar feeding sunbirds, and summarize information on flower age, structure, density, and nectar characteristics. Although flowers of Leon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 1979, Vol.131, p.244-256
Main Authors: Gill F.B, Conway C.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birds
Corolla
Flowers
Foraging
Hummingbirds
Inflorescences
Nectar
Nectar secretion
Plants
Wolves
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Summary:We describe characteristics of the flowers of the African weed Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br. from the viewpoint of ornithologists interested in the ecology of nectar feeding sunbirds, and summarize information on flower age, structure, density, and nectar characteristics. Although flowers of Leonotis nepetifolia are clearly adapted for pollination by sunbirds, they do not appear to be closely coevolved with any one of the large sunbird species that often visit them to obtain nectar.
ISSN:0097-3157
1938-5293