Abstract
Rosa setigera is unique among known roses because it is truly dioecious, yet the plants and flowers are almost impossible to sex. Subtle differences in the inflorescences have been detected, for example, there are more flowers per inflorescence on male plants than on female plants and petal expansion from the day of opening to the next day is greater in females than in males; in addition, pollen from female plants appears somewhat collapsed and does not germinate. Pollinators (Apis mellifera, other bees (Apidae), Eristalis tenax and other Syrphidae: Diptera) visit the blossoms mostly in the morning to collect pollen (there is no nectar) and in choice experiments do not discriminate between male flowers and female flowers on landing, but do spend significantly more time on the former. They do discriminate between freshly opened flowers and day-old flowers, and show marked preference for bouquets of five flowers vs. single flowers. The female plants, with smaller inflorescences and lesser interest to pollen foraging insects, seem to encourage them to forage at more flowers than do their male counterparts. This may be biologically significant for effective pollen flow in a dioecious pollenonly plant with pollenivorous pollinators.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.