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Generalized fly-pollination in Ceropegia ampliata (Apocynaceae–Asclepiadoideae): the role of trapping hairs in pollen export and receipt

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Abstract

Flowers of most species in the genus Ceropegia have elaborate adaptations to trap pollinating flies. Flies are trapped within a bulbous base of the flower after moving through an elongated corolla tube that is frequently lined with stiff hairs. When these hairs wilt after several days, insects held in the bulbous chamber at the base of the corolla tube are released. Despite such complex adaptations for trapping pollinators, key aspects of the pollination ecology including the identity of pollinators, presence or absence of nectar rewards, duration of pollinator trapping, and pollination success remain undescribed for most Ceropegia species. Importantly, no studies have empirically tested the role that trapping hairs may have on pollen export and receipt. We documented the pollination biology of Ceropegia ampliata in two natural populations and found that C. ampliata can be regarded as a generalist, being pollinated by flies from at least four families (Tachinidae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, and Lauxaniidae). The duration of the trapping phase lasted 2–5 days and flowers produce small quantities of nectar. Pollination success was highly variable but generally low with occasional peaks suggesting that flies are likely to visit this species sporadically. Flowers that had already proceeded beyond the trapping phase generally had a significantly greater number of pollinaria removed than flowers that were still in the trapping phase, probably reflecting the longer exposure to pollinators. In contrast we found no differences in pollinarium removal between flowers with trapping hairs present and flowers with hairs experimentally disabled. The role of trapping hairs in the pollination success of C. ampliata therefore remains uncertain although we propose, on the basis of this experiment, that trapping may be an adaptation to enhance female success through pollen deposition rather than pollen export. Given the low rates of natural pollen deposition, an experiment with a large number of replicates is required to test this hypothesis in Ceropegia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Henderson foundation, Rhodes University Joint Research Council, for funding, and Ashley Kirk-Spriggs for help with fly identification. Professor Ted Botha is thanked for helping in making microcapillary needles. Thanks to Cara-Jayne Thorne for help in reviewing the final manuscript.

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  1. Department of Botany, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

    Gareth Coombs, Anthony P. Dold & Craig I. Peter

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  1. Gareth Coombs
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Correspondence to Gareth Coombs.

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Coombs, G., Dold, A.P. & Peter, C.I. Generalized fly-pollination in Ceropegia ampliata (Apocynaceae–Asclepiadoideae): the role of trapping hairs in pollen export and receipt. Plant Syst Evol 296, 137–148 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-011-0483-6

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