TY - JOUR T1 - Pollination biology of four sympatric species of Habenaria (Orchidaceae: Orchidinae) from southern Brazil JF - Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society Y1 - 2012 A1 - Pedron, M. A1 - Buzatto, C.R. A1 - Singer, R.B. A1 - Batista, J.A.N. A1 - Moser, A. SP - 141 EP - 156 KW - BRAZIL KW - EUMORPHA KW - FLORAL MORPHOLOGY KW - HABENARIA KW - MANDUCA KW - NECTAR COMPOSITION KW - ORCHIDACEAE KW - POLLINATION KW - POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY KW - SPHINGIDAE AB -

"The pollination process and breeding system of the sympatric Habenaria johannensis, H. macronectar, H. megapotamensis and H. montevidensis was documented for native populations from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. All species investigated offer a nectar reward (mean values of total sugars ranging from 18 to 26%) concealed in a spur. Habenaria montevidensis is pollinated by butterflies (Hesperiidae, especially of the genus Urbanus) that carry pollinaria on their eyes; the other three species are pollinated by Sphingidae. Habenaria johannensis is pollinated by the moths Manduca rustica and M. sexta that carry the pollinaria at the base of the proboscis. Habenaria macronectar is pollinated by the moths Eumorpha labrusca [sic] and M. cf. lucetius, and these bear pollinaria between the palpi. Habenaria megapotamensis is pollinated by moths of M. cf. lucetius that bear the pollinaria on the proboscis. All species studied are self‐compatible, but pollinator dependent. They also displayed high reproductive success (ranging from 69.48 to 97.40%) and male efficiency factors slightly higher than 1, suggesting that at least one flower was pollinated for each flower acting as pollen donor. At the study sites, the investigated Habenaria spp. are isolated (in terms of pollination) by a set of factors that includes differing floral morphologies, different pollinators and/or different pollinarium placement on the pollinator."

VL - 170 UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01285.x IS - 2 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Eye attached hemipollinia in the hawkmoth and settling moth pollination of Habenaria (Orchidaceae): a study on functional morphology in 5 species from subtropical South America JF - Botanica Acta Y1 - 1997 A1 - Singer, R.B. A1 - Cocucci, A.A. SP - 328 EP - 337 KW - AGRIUS KW - HABENARIA KW - MANDUCA KW - NOCTUIDAE KW - ORCHIDACEAE KW - POLLINATION KW - SPHINGIDAE AB -

"Morphological adaptations to sphingophily and pollination by moths was studied in 5 South American Habenaria species. For H. gourlieana and H. hieronymi direct evidence of hawkmoth (Agrius cingulatus and Manduca sexta) and settling moth (Rachiplusia nu) pollination, respectively, by hemipollinaria attachment on the eyes, is presented. In two other species (H. paucofilia, H. rupicola) pollination by settling moths and eye attachment of the hemipollinaria can be inferred by indirect evidence (placement of scales and massulae on the flowers) and by flower structure. For the fifth species (H. montevidensis) pollination by small moths or mosquitoes with hemipollinaria attachment on the proboscis is postulated. A comparative study in floral features revealed clear morphological divergence between sphingophilous and phalaenophilous species. In addition to deeper spurs the former have slender, exerted, and upturned petal lobes (acting as mechanical guide to the hovering visitors), a much developed median rostellar lobe (acting as deflecting surface of the hawkmoths towards the viscidia), flexible and sinuous hemipollinarium caudicles (appropriate for frontal strikes against the stigma when hemipollinaria are brought by the hawkmoths dangling against the flower). Male efficiency was compared between 4 species with overlapping flowering time in the same area. Male efficiency factors were unexpectedly low in all species. Only in one species (H. hieronymi) each pollen donation accounted for more than one pollination. H. gourlieana is part of a more or less rich sphingophilous flora interacting with the same two long-tongued hawkmoth species. Interspecific competition for pollen placement on the pollinator's body surface is probably low on account of different pollination mechanisms."

VL - 110 UR - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1438-8677.1997.tb00648.x IS - 4 ER -