Modes of Self‐Pollination and Absence of Cryptic Self‐Incompatibility in Drosophyllum lusitanicum (Droseraceae)

Abstract

Abstract:We show experimentally that several types of selfing occur simultaneously in Drosophyllum lusitanicum: prior, competitive, insect‐facilitated, delayed and geitonogamous. In addition, we report evidence of cleistogamy in the flower bud. All types of selfing were successful in producing fruits and seeds; however, geitonogamy did not occur uniformly throughout the flowering period in this species. We also report the absence of cryptic self‐incompatibility: the germination rate and pollen tube growth rate of cross pollen were no greater than those of self pollen when both types were placed on stigmas of the same flower (mixed pollination). There was a tendency for self pollen to be more vigorous than cross pollen but it just failed to reach significance.