In response to conservation concerns, the reproductive biology of the San Fernando Valley Spineflower was investigated, focusing on pollination interactions and seed germination. Pollination by a variety of aerial visitors, as well as autogamy (a facultative selfer, showing about 25% selfing), appear to contribute significantly to fruit/seed set. There was a significant correlation between the numerous different floral visitors (many went uncollected) and the invertebrate fauna in the immediately surrounding coastal sage scrub community indicating that this taxon is visited by a substantial variety of potential pollinators and is probably not pollinator-limited. Although there were many potential pollinators, only six species, including three species of ants, made up the vast majority of visits to the flowers at the two study sites. Many of the invertebrate visitors to the flowers of the San Fernando Valley Spineflower exhibited a high rate of constancy. An overall generalist strategy is suggested. Seed set was high and a germination rate of over 70% occurred without pre-treatment.
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31 January 2009
Reproductive Biology of the San Fernando Valley Spineflower, Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina (Polygonaceae)
C. Eugene Jones,
Frances M. Shropshire,
Laura L. Taylor-Taft,
Sean E. Walker,
Leo C. Song Jr.,
Youssef C. Atallah,
Robert L. Allen,
Darren R. Sandquist,
Jim Luttrell,
Jack H. Burk
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Madroño
Vol. 56 • No. 1
January 2009
Vol. 56 • No. 1
January 2009
ants
Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina
floral constancy
generalist pollination strategy
mixed mating
pollination biology
Polygonaceae