Has Ixianthes ( Scrophulariaceae ) lost its special bee

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