| Title | Study on the flexistyly pollination mechanism in Alpinia plants (Zingiberaceae) |
| Author | Li, QJ |
| Publication | ACTA BOTANICA SINICA |
| Year | 2001 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Corresponding Author | Li, QJ |
| Abstract | Temporal dioecy, a no flowering mechanism of synchronous alternation of pistillate and staminate phases in hermaphroditic (bisexual) flowers or monoecious individuals, decreases the probability of self-fertilization in self-compatible (SC) species. The authors report the prevalence of flexistyly in native species of Alpinia Roxb. in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China, resulted in dimorphism with two temporal dioecious floral phenotypes that facilitates out-crossing. Populations of ginger plants Alpinia have two specific phenotypes that differ in flowering behavior: (1) cataflexistyle'' individuals with the stigma held erect beyond dehiscent anther when anthesis begins in the morning and becoming decurved under the anther at noon; (2) hyperflexistyle individuals with the receptive stigma decurved under the indehiscent anther first and moving into a reflexed superior position above the anther as it begins to shed pollen at midday. The stigmatic movements in the two floral phenotypes, which occur in a ratio of 1:1 in natural populations, are synchronous and pollination is effected only between floral forms. Field experiments indicate that species of Alpinia are self-compatible and insect dependent fertilization plants. |
