Reproductive biology and nectar production of the Mexican endemic Psittacanthus auriculatus (Loranthaceae), a hummingbird-pollinated mistletoe.

摘要: Many mistletoe species produce ‘bird’-pollinated flowers; however, the reproductive biology of majority these has not been studied. Psittacanthus auriculatus is a Mexican endemic mistletoe, most common in open, dry mesquite grassland. Knowledge P. auriculatus essential for understanding formation and diversification mistletoes, but it currently poorly understood. Thus, we studied floral phenology, nectar production breeding system pollination this species. The hermaphroditic red-pink flowers open from middle to tip petals are curly, remain partially fused forming tube ca. 20-mm long. Flowers protandrous, large amounts nectar, last 2 days, stigma receptivity highest during second day. We recorded hummingbirds (Cynanthus latirostris, Hylocharis leucotis, Amazilia beryllina, A. violiceps, Calothorax lucifer, Archilochus colubris) less commonly butterflies (Agraulis vanillae, Anteos clorinde, Papilio multicaudatus, Phocides urania, Phoebis sennae) as visitors. P. self-compatible. However, an obligate animal-pollinated species, sensitive avoids self-pollination. Under natural conditions, success was higher than manually selfed or cross-pollinated flowers, likely due traplining foraging behaviour hummingbirds. suggest that apparent efficient maintains gene flow among auriculatus, promoting outcrossing.