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eBook details

• Title: Comparison of Common Factors Affecting Seed Yield in the Congeners, Baptisi Alba and Baptisia Bracteata.
• Author : Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science
• Release Date : January 01, 2006
• Genre: Engineering,Books,Professional & Technical,
• Pages : * pages
• Size : 191 KB

Description

ABSTRACT This study examined the importance of floral display to pollination and ultimately the size of seed set of Baptisia alba (L.) Vent. and B. bracteata Muhl. ex Ell. (Fabaceae) as to provide evidence that competition for pollinators has influenced reproductive distinctions between the congeners. The congeners partially overlap in flowering period and share common pollinators. The a priori assumption was that if the congeners compete, the size of floral display would be a positive predictor of seed matured/plant. As both species are infested by the pre-dispersal seed predator, Apion rostrum Say (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) within the study site, the importance of seed predation as a conflicting variable to seed set of each congener was also studied. The study site was a 7.1 ha, 21-year old reconstructed tallgrass prairie located in northeastern Illinois. Individual B. alba produced more flowers, inflated pods, and seeds matured/flower than B. bracteata, but also had a higher mean count of A. rostrum/pod. Flower count/plant and A. rostrum count/pod were significant predictors of seeds matured/plant for B. alba, while only the former was a significant predictor of seeds matured/plant for B. bracteata. Differences in flowering period between the congeners should lessen competition for pollinators. Growth patterns may be adaptations linked to differences in the timing of flowering. The earlier springtime blooming period of B. bracteata when the prairie vegetation is emerging and pollinator activity is low, may select for showcasing floral display through a larger flower count/plant and clusters of plants. Height is not critical in the relatively barren landscape. Re-emergence of the prairie flora may select for greater height and multiple racemes in the later blooming period of B. alba, perhaps making B. alba to be more apparent to A. rostrum.

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