Flower orientation influences floral temperature, pollinator visits and plant fitness

Plant Biology: Flower Orientation, Temperature Regulation and Pollinator Attraction

The reproductive performance of plants depends on the temperature of the flower. A recent study reports the mechanistic basis of flower head orientation in sunflowers and provides intriguing hints as to its functional significance.

Is floral diversification associated with pollinator divergence? Flower shape, flower colour and pollinator preference in Chilean Mimulus.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Adaptation to different pollinators is thought to drive divergence in flower colour and morphology, and may lead to interspecific reproductive isolation. Floral diversity was tested for association with divergent pollinator preferences in a group of four closely related wildflower species: the yellow-flowered Mimulus luteus var. luteus and the red-pigmented M. l. variegatus,...

Floral Symmetry and Its Role in Plant-Pollinator Systems.

Floral symmetry has a relevant status in the study of both pollination biology and animal behavior. In this work, a brief review and classification of symmetry types in flowers is provided as a basis for understanding the role of floral symmetry in pollination phenomena. We focus on insects as a fundamental group of pollinators, and we discuss symmetry from the perspective of insect perception....

Bumblebee Preadators Reduce Pollinator Density and Plant Fitness

Pollinator responses to variation in floral display and flower size in dioecious Sagittaria latifolia (Alismataceae).

In animal-pollinated plants with unisexual flowers, sexual dimorphism in floral traits may be the consequence of pollinator-mediated selection. Experimental investigations of the effects of variation in flower size and floral display on pollinator visitation can provide insights into the evolution of floral dimorphism in dioecious plants. Here, we investigated pollinator responses to experiment...