Abstract
We studied the floral and pollination biology of Amomum maximum. Our observations suggest that flexistyly is present in this species, and stigmatic behavior is similar as reported for Alpinia species. Two phenotypes occur in a ratio of 1:1 in natural populations. No fruit set occurred in the unpollinated bagged plants. Significant differences in seed set between selfing and crossing manipulations demonstrate that inbreeding depression or partial self-incompatibility is apparent in this species. Despite the resemblance in floral behavior, there are still some differences between the previous studies and ours: with special floral design, the body size of legitimate visitors ranged wider in Amomum maximum than in Alpinia species; the presence of anther appendage is suggested to prevent competing and delayed selfing. This is the first report of flexistyly in a wild cardamom species, which is the second largest group in ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
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Ren, PY., Liu, M. & Li, QJ. An example of flexistyly in a wild cardamom species (Amomum maximum (Zingiberaceae)). Plant Syst. Evol. 267, 147–154 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-007-0554-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-007-0554-x