Contribution to the knowledge of three Indian Spermacoce L. (Rubiaceae) and some preliminary information about their pollination ecology

Authors

  • Aluri Jacob Solomon Raju Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, India
  • Janga Radha Krishna Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, India.
Keywords: Bimorphism, Taxonomy, Entomophily, Seed dispersal

Abstract

Undocumented taxonomic characters have been described for Spermacoce hispida L. and Spermacoce articularis L. S. hispida is bimorphic. The flowers are weakly protandrous, nectariferous and self-pollinating. Butterflies, bees and thrips are important as pollinators. The highest natural fruit set evidenced in these species is attributed to auto-selfing and entomophily. Fruits dehisce septicidally in S. hispida and S. articularis and circumscissile mode in Spermacoce pusilla Wall. Seed dispersal is anemo-, baro-, ombro- and hydro-chorous. These species occupy different habitats to avoid competition for pollinators and maximize seed output and expand their distribution range.

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Published
25-07-2017
How to Cite
Raju, A. J. S., & Radha Krishna, J. (2017). Contribution to the knowledge of three Indian Spermacoce L. (Rubiaceae) and some preliminary information about their pollination ecology. Anales de Biología, (39), 111–126. Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/analesbio/article/view/analesbio.39.13
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Articles