Breeding systems and pollinating agents of the Indian blackberry, Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae)

摘要

Syzygium cuminii is a self-compatible, monoclinous, mass-bloomer. However, intrafloral selfing was prevented by protandrous condition. Geitonogamy is the predominant breeding system. Twenty-four insect species (2 nocturnal, 2 crepuscular, 20 diurnal)were recorded at the flowers foraging mostly for nectar. The inconsistency of the noctuids, the sparseness of the sphingids and the inefficiency of the diurnal visitors made the plant resort to anemophily. Fruit-set was unaffected when all the insects were prevented from visiting the flowers. Thus, the insects were more dependent on Syzygium than Syzygium was on the insects. Unlike in temperate anemophiles, in Syzygium, anthesis, anther dehiscence, pollen release all took place during night, with lowertemperature and high relative humidity. The shift in the pollen release timing might be viewed as an adaptive mechanism for tropical conditions.