Floral colour change in Pedicularis monbeigiana (Orobanchaceae)

We examined the effects of the retention of colour-changed flowers on long- and short-distance attractiveness of bumblebees and the likelihood of successive flower visits by bumblebees in Pedicularis monbeigiana. The lower lip changed colour with age from white to purple. Hand geitonogamous pollinat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant systematics and evolution 2005-09, Vol.255 (1/2), p.77-85
Main Authors: Sun, S.-G., Liao, K., Xia, J., Guo, Y.H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attraction
Bombus
Bumblebees
Color
Color change
Flowers
Flowers & plants
Inflorescences
Insect pollination
Pedicularis
Plant reproduction
Plant reproductive structures
Plants
Plants (botany)
Pollen
Pollinating insects
Pollination
Pollinators
Reinforcement
Seed set
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Summary:We examined the effects of the retention of colour-changed flowers on long- and short-distance attractiveness of bumblebees and the likelihood of successive flower visits by bumblebees in Pedicularis monbeigiana. The lower lip changed colour with age from white to purple. Hand geitonogamous pollination significantly reduced seed production. No pollen limitation occurred in this species. Purple-phase flowers contributed minimally to pollinator attractiveness at long distance. The combination of less reproductive flowers with a lower amount of reward and floral colour change enabled plants to direct pollinators to reproductive, highly rewarding white flowers at close range. A high percentage of purple-phase flowers in an inflorescence was associated with a marked reduction in the frequency of successive flower visits to individual plants. We suggest floral colour change in P. monbeigiana may serve as a mechanism for enhancing inter-individual pollen transfer and reducing intra-individual pollen transfer.
ISSN:0378-2697
1615-6110
2199-6881
DOI:10.1007/s00606-005-0348-y