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The pollination ecology of the late-successional tree, Oroxylum indicum (Bignoniaceae) in Thailand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2008

Tuanjit Srithongchuay ,
Sara Bumrungsri  and
Ekapong Sripao-raya
Tuanjit Srithongchuay
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand90112
Sara Bumrungsri*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand90112
Ekapong Sripao-raya
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, Thailand90112 Thailand Natural History Musuem, Kloang Luang, Phathumthani, Thailand
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

Although plant species that attract multiple species of pollinators predominate in tropical plant communities, pollination specialists appear to be at a greater advantage in tropical ecosystems in which pollinators are numerous and many plants flower synchronously. The present study determined the breeding system and legitimate pollinators of Oroxylum indicum Vent. in Songkhla and Patthalung Provinces, Thailand. Oroxylum indicum exhibits steady-state flowering, with one or two flowers per inflorescence opening each night. Flowers open in the evening and drop off shortly after midnight, while its bilabiate stigma is highly sensitive, and quickly close upon being touched. Oroxylum indicum is self-incompatible. Hand-cross pollination and open pollination yielded the highest pollination success (47.7% and 31.2% respectively, n = 7 trees). About 900 pollen grains are needed for initiating fruit set. It is confirmed that a fruit bat, Eonycteris spelaea, is the legitimate pollinator. Bats are responsible for all pollen load and the pollen load from only one visit is generally sufficient to initiate fruit set. Although Eonycteris spelaea is effective, it is an inefficient pollinator. Compared with plant species pollinated by multiple animal species, the likelihood of pollination failure resulting from the decline in populations of Eonycteris spelaea will be much more intense in Oroxylum indicum.

Keywords

effective pollinatorEonycteris spelaeapollination specializationself incompatiblestigma closure
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 24 , Issue 5 , September 2008 , pp. 477 - 484
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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