Summary: | The mating system of plants widely distributed can change in native range but also in non-native habitats. <i>Oenothera drummondii,</i> native to the coastal dunes of the Gulf of Mexico, has been introduced to Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Hand self- and cross-pollination were performed to determine compatibility and to compare fruit set, fruit weight, seed set and germination characteristics from natives and non-natives populations and a comprehensive integral reproductive success index (IRSI) was built. <i>Oenothera drummondii</i> exhibited high self-compatibility and mixed reproductive systems in all populations. Characteristics of fruits and seeds from self- and cross-pollination varied within and between native and non-native populations and some had a positive clinal variation in the native range. The IRSI was sensitive to changes of fruit set, seed set and final germination of both self- and cross-pollination, showing differences between native populations. Differences in characteristics of fruits and seeds in the native and non-native ranges suggest the occurrence of distinct selection factors. The mixed reproductive system of <i>O. drummondii</i> suggests it can take advantage of local visitors in the native range, but also can provide advantages for the establishment at non-native sites giving the opportunity to interact with local flower visitors.
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