The Mating Systems and Pollination Biology of Three Species of Verbena (Verbenaceae)

Authors

Robert W. Cruden, University of IowaFollow
Kristina K. Baker, University of IowaFollow
Thomas E. Cullinan, University of Iowa
Karen A. Disbrow, University of Iowa
Kelly L. Douglas, University of Iowa
John D. Erb, University of Iowa
Kenneth J. Kirsten, University of Iowa
Mary L. Malik, University of Iowa
Elizabeth A. Turner, University of Iowa
Jonathon A. Weier, University of Iowa
Sherry R. Wilmot, University of IowaFollow

Document Type

Research

Keywords

facultative xenogamy, plant mating systems, thrips pollination, Verbena

Abstract

Because their flowers can be cross- and/or self-pollinated Verbena stricta, V hastata and V urticifolia are facultatively xenogamous. We suggest the flowers can be cross-pollinated because I) the fruit set of caged plants was substantially lower than that of open-pollinated plants, i.e. pollinators were necessary for typical fruit set and 2) the flowers of each species attracted a diverse array of hymenopteran, dipteran and lepidopteran pollinators that were capable of moving pollen between plants. Self-pollination was low due to the spatial separation of anthers and stigmas and/or an angled corolla that decreased the likelihood of pollen dropping from the anthers onto the stigma. However, the limited ability of flowers to self-pollinate was supplemented by the intrafloral movement of pollen by thrips. In addition, both the pollen-ovule ratios and pollination efficiencies of these species were consistent with those of other facultatively xenogamous species, and the available data were consistent with each species being self-compatible. Finally, we discuss a protocol for distinguishing between self-pollination and the intrafloral movement of pollen by thrips.

Publication Date

December 1990

Journal Title

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science

Volume

97

Issue

4

First Page

178

Last Page

183

Copyright

© Copyright 1990 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc.

Language

EN

File Format

application/pdf

Recommended Citation

Cruden, Robert W.; Baker, Kristina K.; Cullinan, Thomas E.; Disbrow, Karen A.; Douglas, Kelly L.; Erb, John D.; Kirsten, Kenneth J.; Malik, Mary L.; Turner, Elizabeth A.; Weier, Jonathon A.; and Wilmot, Sherry R. (1990) "The Mating Systems and Pollination Biology of Three Species of Verbena (Verbenaceae)," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 97(4), 178-183.
Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol97/iss4/15