On the Function of Flowers
1. Review of reproductive biology
-life cycle
-variation in flowers
2. Pollination Ecology
-precise placement
-outcrossing
-pollination
syndromes
On the Function of Flowers
1. Review of reproductive biology
-life cycle
-variation in flowers
2. Pollination Ecology
-precise placement
-outcrossing
-pollination
syndromes
Three paths for pollen flow:
selfing:
1. Within flower
2. Between flowers
3. outcrossing (between plants)
Red Maple Flowers
staminate
pistillate
Foxgloves and
outcrossing
Three components to
outcrossing in foxglove
1. Young flowers are
male, old are female
2. Young flowers are
nearer the top
3. Bees fly up.
Male zone
Then start
over at the
bottom
Bees fly up
Female zone
Primroses:
Outcrossing with
Heterostyly
syndromes
On the Function of Flowers
1. Review of reproductive biology
-life cycle
-variation in flowers
2. Pollination Ecology
-precise placement
-outcrossing
-pollination
syndromes
-pollination syndromes
Hummingbird --long tube
-red color
-abundant nectar
- no odor
- no landing
-pollination syndromes
Sphinx Moth --long tube
-white color
-abundant nectar
- exquisite odor (periodic)
- landing
evening primrose
(Oenothera,
Onagraceae)
Angraecum (Orchidaceae)
Angraecum sesquipedale
Xanthopan
© Esko Puupponen
-pollination syndromes
Beetle -- two variants,
nuptial chamber and
painted bowl
See Bernhardt 2000 to fix
this slide and the next two.
The beetle pollination syndrome nuptial-chamber variant
• Many stamens often with appendages
• Chamber to accommodate several
animals
• Night-flowering
• Without markings
• Scent attractant for beetles
-pollination syndromes
Carrion insect --contrasting light and dark
pattern
-brown-purple color
-no nectar
- foul odor
wakerobin
Carrioninsect
flowers
Jack in
the
pulpit
Wild
ginger
Stapelia - African carrion-insect dispersed flower
-pollination syndromes
Wind--no perianth
-no nectar
-imperfect flowers
-abundant pollen
-big stigmas
Grasses – family Poaceae (Gramineae)
Sparganium - windpollinated aquatic
-pollination syndromes
Flowers that mimic insects
-mate mimics
-aggressive mimics
Ophrys
pollination
On the Function of Flowers
1. Review of reproductive biology
-life cycle
-variation in flowers
2. Pollination Ecology
-precise placement
-outcrossing
-pollination
syndromes