In Peruvian Amazonia pollination ecology of two palms, Chamaedorea pinnatifrons (Jacq.) Oerst. and Wendlandiella sp. was studied from October 1988 to January 1990. Both palms are dioecious understory species that form locally dense populations.
In C. pinnatifrons both sexes flower synchronously during the dry season. Prior to anthesis, the pendulous male inflorescence is inhabited by numerous thrips (Thysanoptera) and Ptiliidae (Coleoptera). Staminate flowers open by a small basal slit between the petals. At anthesis pollen is shed and the movements of the insects inside the flowers trigger pollen release in small clouds. Thus, the powdery pollen becomes airborne and finally air currents act as a vector, carrying pollen to the inconspicuous female plants, which usually are not visited by insects. The term ‘insect induced wind pollination’ is suggested for this pollination mode.
Wendlandiella flowers during four months in the dry season. Male and female plants were not visited by insects. The dry condition of the pollen indicates that anemophily is the pollination mode in Wendlandiella. Fructification is rare but the plants show intense vegetative propagation.
The significance of anemophily in the tropical lowland rain forest is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, A.B., Overal, W.L. and Henderson, A. (1988) Pollination ecology of a forest-dominant palm (Orbignya phalerata Mart.) in northern Brazil. Biotrop. 20, 192–205.
Bawa, K.S. and Crisp, J.E. (1980) Wind pollination in the understorey of a rain forest in Costa Rica. J. Ecol. 68, 871–6.
Bawa, K.S., Bullock, S.H., Perry, D.R., Corville, R.E. and Grayum, M.H. (1985) Reproductive biology of tropical lowland rain forest trees. II. Pollination systems. Ammer. J. Bot. 72, 346–56.
Faegri, K. and van der, Pijl, L. (1979) The Principles of Pollination Ecology. (3rd edn). Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Fisher, J.B. and Moore, H.E. (1977) Multiple inflorescences in palms (Arecaceae): their development and significance. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 98, 573–611.
Henderson, A. (1986) A review of pollination studies in the Palmae. Bot. Rev. 52, 221–59.
Herrera, J. (1989) On the reproductive biology of the dwarf palm, Chamaerops humilis in southern Spain. Principes 33, 27–32.
Inouye, D.W. (1980) The terminology of floral larcency. Ecol. 61, 1251–3.
Lewis, W.H. (1986) Airborne pollen of the Neotropics. Potential roles in pollination and pollinosis. Grana 25, 75–83.
MacBride, J.F. (1960) Flora of Peru. 16. Palmae. Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 13, 321–418.
Read, R.W. (1975) The genus Thrinax (Palmae: Coryphoideae). Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 19, 1–98.
Scariot, A.O., Lleras, E. and Hay, J.D. (1991) Reproductive biology of the palm Acroncomia aculeata in Central Brazil. Biotrop. 23, 12–22.
Soderstrom, T.R. and Calderon, C.E. (1971) Insect pollination in tropical rain forest grasses. Biotrop. 3, 1–16.
Spruce, R. (1869) Palmae Amazonicae, sive enumeratio palmarum in itinere suo per regiones Americas aequatoriales lectarum. J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 11, 65–183.
Uhl, N.W. and Dransfield, J. (1987) Genera palmarum. Kansas: Allen Press, Lawrence.
Whitehead, D.R. (1969) Wind pollination in the angiosperms: evolutionary and environmental considerations. Evolution 23, 28–35.
Whitehead, D.R. (1983) Wind pollination: Some ecological and evolutionary perspectives. In: Pollination Biology (L., Real, ed.) pp. 97–108. Orlando, Florida: Academic Press.
Whitmore, T.C. (1990) An introduction to tropical rain forests. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Listabarth, C. Insect-induced wind pollination of the palm Chamaedorea pinnatifrons and pollination in the related Wendlandiella sp.. Biodivers Conserv 2, 39–50 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055101
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00055101