Bees substitute birds in pollination of ornitogamous climber Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. in Poland

Campsis radicans is an attractive climber with typical ornitogamous flowers, native to North America. In natural conditions this out-crossed plant is pollinated mostly by hummingbirds. In Poland, where C. radicans is cultivated as ornamental, it rarely sets seeds. The questions addressed in the pres...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Iwona Kołodziejska-Degórska, Marcin Zych
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Polish Botanical Society 2011-01-01
Series:Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/521
Description
Summary:Campsis radicans is an attractive climber with typical ornitogamous flowers, native to North America. In natural conditions this out-crossed plant is pollinated mostly by hummingbirds. In Poland, where C. radicans is cultivated as ornamental, it rarely sets seeds. The questions addressed in the present study were: (1) What animals pollinate its flowers in Poland?, and (2) What is the reason for infrequent fruit set? Field studies conducted in five localities in Poland showed that the principal pollinator is Apis mellifera, and the lack of seeds is usually caused by pollinator limitation or absence of genetically different pollen donor plants.
ISSN:2083-9480