Abstract
ABSTRACT Elaiophores are floral glands that secrete non-volatile oils as a reward for their pollinators. Their secretions mediate a specialized interaction between oil-producing plants and a few species of oil-collecting bees - Apidae and Melittidae. The present review focuses on the morphological and functional aspects of these secretory structures. We also provide information on their chemistry and pollination ecology. Our survey is organized taxonomically among the plant families for which elaiophore occurrence has been confirmed -for the monocots, Iridaceae and Orchidaceae, and for the eudicots, Calceolariaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Krameriaceae, Malpighiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Primulaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae and Stilbaceae. Most oil flowers are zygomorphic, bisexual, nectarless and present their elaiophores on the protective whorls or on the androecium. Trichomal elaiophores are reported in all of these families except Krameriaceae and Malpighiaceae, and they vary in the density and morphology of the trichomes. Epithelial elaiophores occur in some monocot representatives and in Krameriaceae and Malpighiaceae, and are similar among species. An intermediate type of elaiophore is reported in some species of Orchidaceae. Regardless of elaiophore type, these glands have similar subcellular features and secretion-release mechanisms. Finally, we note the dearth of information on elaiophore ultrastructure and functioning for several plant families.
Highlights
Elaiophores are a type of floral secretory structure whose secretions act as the primary attractant in a mutual relationship between oil-producing flowers and oil-collecting bees – their potential pollinators.This specialized pollination system was first reported in Angelonia and Calceolaria species by Vogel (1969; 1971; 1974)
Trichomal elaiophores are reported in all of these families except Krameriaceae and Malpighiaceae, and they vary in the density and morphology of the trichomes
Epithelial elaiophores occur in some monocot representatives and in Krameriaceae and Malpighiaceae, and are similar among species
Summary
Elaiophores are a type of floral secretory structure whose secretions act as the primary attractant in a mutual relationship between oil-producing flowers and oil-collecting bees – their potential pollinators. This specialized pollination system was first reported in Angelonia and Calceolaria species by Vogel (1969; 1971; 1974). In addition to Vogel’s early publications and those of others presented here, general and more recent information on oil-producing flowers and/or on oil-collecting bees can be found in Simpson & Neff (1981), Buchmann (1987), Rasmussen & Olesen (2000), Machado (2004), Alves-dos-Santos et al (2007) and Renner & Schaefer (2010). Taxa with oil-offering flowers in at least one species (total of species in the genus)**
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