Abstract
Plant species that secrete oil as their primary floral reward are rare and sporadically found in the angiosperms. We report here thatMonttea, a genus previously unsuspected of being an oil-plant, produces lipids from trichome elaiophores on the inside of the lower (anterior) lip. The discovery of the production of oils by species of this S. American genus explains the occurrence of unusual dual-function collecting structures in ArgentineCentris (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) and explains the presence of oil-collecting bees in regions where oil-secreting flowers were previously thought to be absent. The behavior of these centridine pollinators onMonttea flowers parallels that of oil-collecting bees onDiascia (Scrophulariaceae) in S. Africa.
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Simpson, B.B., Neff, J.L. & Dieringer, G. The production of floral oils byMonttea (Scrophulariaceae) and the function of tarsal pads inCentris bees. Pl Syst Evol 173, 209–222 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00940864
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00940864