Evidence of rodent pollination in Cajophora coronata (Loasaceae).

COCUCCI A. A.; SÉRSIC, A. N.

PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION

Año: 1998 vol. 211 p. 113 - 128

0378-2697

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Cocucci, A. A. & Sérsic, A. N. 1998. Evidence of rodent pollination in Cajophora coronata (Loasaceae). Plant Syst. Evol. 211: 113-128. (Austria).   Key words: Loasaceae, Cajophora, Graomys. - Flower biology, non-flying mammal pollination, rodents.   Abstract: Vegetative and floral features of Cajophora coronata (Loasaceae) suggest adaptations to pollination by rodents: (1) mammal guard represented by a covering of stinging hairs; (2) geoflory; (3) white corolla; (4) open flowers with copious low concentration nectar; (5) abundant pollen; (6) maximum pollen and nectar presentation in the afternoon hours and in the night. Palynological analysis revealed pollen loads of C. coronata on the nostrils and whiskers of captured rodents (Graomys griseoflavus, fam. Muridae). Pollen and anther remains were also found in faeces sampled in the surroundings. Additional evidence includes rodent footprints obtained by placing smoked plates beneath the flowers, which revealed flower visitation during the night. These observations are to our knowledge the first evidence of flower visitation by rodents in South America and the first in the New World outside the range of flower bats and bat flowers.