Incidence of geitonogamy differs between two populations in the hawkmoth-pollinated Platanthera bifolia (Orchidaceae)

Abstract

We estimated geitonogamy in individuals with different inflorescence sizes in a small (100–200 flowering individuals) and a large population (>700 flowering individuals) of the self-compatible, moth-pollinated orchid Platanthera bifolia (L.) L. C. Rich. (Orchidaceae). Geitonogamy was estimated as the percent reduction in pollen receipt by emasculated compared with control plants over seven nights. Geitonogamy in the small population was 23% and 38% during 2 years, respectively. In contrast, no geitonogamy was detected during a single flowering season in the large population. Geitonogamy did not vary with inflorescence size and emasculation had no impact on fruit set. The difference in geitonogamy between the populations in the present study may be related to pollinator abundance and behaviour. We suggest that incidence of geitonogamy will be higher if the pollinator carries smaller pollen loads when arriving at a plant because there will be a smaller fraction of cross-pollen carried after visiting one flower. Geitonogamy may be influenced by available number of mates, pollen load size, pollinator behaviour, and pollen carryover.Key words: geitonogamy, population size, inflorescence size, pollen-limitation, pollen carryover, self-pollination.