Abstract
AbstractThe Central Amazonian Annonaceae species Bocageopsis multiflora and Oxandra euneura were studied with respect to anthesis, flowering phenology, odor production, and visitation and pollination of the flowers by insects. Flowers of both species are protogynous and have diurnal anthesis. The sweetish flower odors attract thrips to Bocageopsis flowers and staphylinid beetles and thrips to Oxandra flowers. These insects apparently are not harmful to flower tissues; they crawl on the stamens and stigmas and seem to be efficient pollen vectors. The stamens of Bocageopsis and Oxandra, which possess a prominent tongue‐shaped connective prolongation supposedly represent the archaic stamen form within the Annonaceae. It is speculated that the stamens of these species could maintain their original laminar form with tongue‐shaped prolongations because of the low selection pressure exerted by the non‐destructive thrips and staphylinid beetles. The strong influence of voracious beetles on flower structures in other neotropical Annonaceae is discussed.
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