REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF ERYTHRONIUM GRANDIFLORUM VARIETIES GRANDIFLORUM AND CANDIDUM (LILIACEAE)

Abstract

This four‐year (1982–1986) study compared the pollination biology and cytology of a relatively rare taxon, Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh var. candidum (Piper) Abrams, with that of a geographically widespread sister taxon, E. grandiflorum var. grandiflorum, in the Pacific Northwest. Breeding studies were used to study the reproductive systems of the taxa, to test for interfertility between them, and to seek abnormalities in the breeding system of the rare taxon that might account for its relative rarity. Chromosomes were counted in both taxa and in hybrids from artificial crosses. Ranges of the two taxa were determined from field studies and herbarium specimens. Although the ranges of the taxa overlap in part, populations are usually allopatric. Phenological factors are probably minor in preventing cross‐pollination between the taxa. Both taxa are protogynous obligate outcrossers pollinated by bees. Seed production apparently is not pollinator‐limited. The two taxa are interfertile only when individuals from allopatric populations are artificially crossed, and thus should be considered two biological species. When the taxa overlap in floral phenology in sympatric populations, they exhibit reciprocal incompatibility. Such incompatibility between closely related perennial species is unusual. It may have arisen via natural selection in mixed populations. Alternatively, if populations of each taxon vary with regard to their incompatibility alleles, they may have acquired their fertility barriers by chance before populations of the two taxa came into contact with each other.