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HasIxianthes (Scrophulariaceae) lost its special bee?

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Abstract

Ixianthes retzioides is a rare, moderately sized, shrub with large yellow flowers that are lined with glandular trichomes. Preliminary analysis indicates that the trichomes secrete a complex mixture of lipids. Floral morphology suggests thatIxianthes should be pollinated by a large oil-collecting bee, yet only one possible candidate,Rediviva “gig”, is known and it occurs outside of the distributional range ofIxianthes. Despite observations ofIxianthes at different sites in different years, no oil-collecting bee has been observed visiting the flowers. This together with low fruit and seed set at the main study site suggests thatIxianthes has lost, at least locally, its specialized pollinator. Plants are self-compatible and set a limited amount of seed as a result of visits by pollen-collecting bees.

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  1. Compton Herbarium, National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X7, 7735, Claremont, Republic of South Africa

    Kim E. Steiner

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  1. Kim E. Steiner
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Steiner, K.E. HasIxianthes (Scrophulariaceae) lost its special bee?. Pl Syst Evol 185, 7–16 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937717

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937717

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