THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF A RELICT–ILLICIUM FLORIDANUM ELLIS

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  • Leonard B. Thien
    Department of Biology Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana 70118
  • David A. White
    Department of Biology Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana 70118
  • Larry Y. Yatsu
    Department of Biology Tulane University New Orleans Louisiana 70118

Description

<jats:p>The flowers of <jats:italic>Illicium floridanum</jats:italic> are pollinated by a wide variety of insects, particularly Diptera that emerge from the litter and stream in early spring. Coleoptera rarely visit the flowers. It is suggested that the mode of pollination is ancient and may also exist in species of primitive angiosperms in the South Pacific. <jats:italic>Illicium floridanum</jats:italic> is self‐incompatible and possesses features of a gametophytically controlled incompatibility system. As a result of asexual reproduction, a lack of long‐distance dispersal of pollen and self‐incompatibility, fruit production is very low. This pattern of reproduction is found in other species of primitive angiosperms; incompatibility mechanisms which undoubtedly aided the angiosperms to become dominant may now be one of the major factors responsible for their extinction.</jats:p>

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