Abstract
The reproductive biology of two closely related Ajuga (Lamiaceae) species, Ajuga iva (L.) Schreber and Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreber, was compared. Ajuga iva is a perennial, cleistogamous species that occurs relatively frequently in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, while A. chamaepitys is an annual, chasmogamous species that is rarely encountered in the same region. Flowers from the two species are homogamous and self-compatible. However, they exhibit substantial differences in their reproductive behavior. Ajuga iva produces two types of flowers: cleistogamous (CL) flowers that are obligately selfed, and chasmogamous (CH) flowers that are potentially outcrossed. CH flowers are produced in small numbers relative to CL flowers. Ajuga chamaepitys produces chasmogamous flowers only. However, if the flowers are not visited by insects within 1-2 d after anthesis, some changes in the relative disposition of the anthers and stigma lead to self-pollination, a rare occurrence in the Lamiaceae. The fruits p...
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