Temporal Games of Pollination in the Life Cycle of an Annual Weed: Trifolium fragiferum L.

Abstract

Trifolium fragiferum L. (Fabaceae) is an ecologically successful and colonizing hermaphroditic annual weed which is found abundantly in Jammu, J&K. The plants are self-compatible and are visited by a number of insects like bees, wasps and butterflies. In the absence of insect visits, this species undergo selfing through in situ pollen germination. The species appears to have utilized different pollination mechanisms to adapt to unpredictable environment conditions with obvious advantages of reproductive assurance by forming selfed as well as crossed seeds (mixed mating). Further, this labile mating system allows a response to changing pollinator environment for the survival and natural propagation of this species.