Skip to main content

Specialized pollination by fungus gnats in the introduced population of Aspidistra elatior

Journal of Plant Research volume 131, pages 497–503 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The monocot genus Aspidistra comprises rhizomatous perennials that are distributed in tropical to warm temperate regions of Asia. Little is known about the pollinators of almost all the species, probably due to the inconspicuous nature of Aspidistra flowers. Nevertheless, the unusual floral morphology suggests biotic pollination, since pollen grains are hidden under each flower’s stigma. Aspidistra elatior has been suspected to have a very peculiar pollination ecology. So far, pollination by mollusks, crustaceans, or collembolans has been suspected. However, a recent study showed that A. elatior is mainly pollinated by species of fungus gnats in Kuroshima Island, southern Japan, which is its natural habitat. Here, we investigated the pollination ecology of A. elatior in Shiga Prefecture, central Japan, which is the introduced population, to reveal whether fungus gnats are also the main pollinator in the introduced population. Our study confirmed fungus gnats pollination in the investigated pollination. Furthermore, the main pollinators (i.e., Cordyla sixi and Bradysia sp.) are the same in both Kuroshima and Shiga Prefecture. Therefore, A. elatior mainly depends on a narrow taxonomic group of fungus gnats for pollination. In contrast, we failed to document any terrestrial amphipods visiting the A. elatior flowers, in spite of a relatively high fruit set in natural conditions. This fact will refute the amphipod pollination hypothesis proposed by previous studies. We consider that A. elatior is pollinated by fungus gnats through fungal mimicry, due to its superficial similarity to mushroom fruiting bodies and strong, musky floral scent.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  • Ackerman JD, Mesler MR (1979) Pollination biology of Listera cordata (Orchidaceae). Am J Bot 66:820–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Averyanov LV, Tillich HJ (2016) Aspidistra anomala, A. elegans and A. sinensis spp. nov. (Asparagaceae, Convallariaceae s.s.) from China, Laos and Vietnam. Nord J Bot 34:141–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binns E (1981) Fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae-Sciaridae) and the role of mycophagy in soil: a review (primary decomposition of litter). Rev Ecol Biol Sol 18:77–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Blume CL (1834) Aspidistra elatior. Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie 1:76–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchenau F (1867) Einige Notizen über Dichogamie, namentlich bei Aspidistra elatior Bl. Bot Zeit 28:220–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler P, Chandler P (2010) Associations with fungi, Mycetozoa and plants. A dipterist’s handbook. Amat Entomol 15:417–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Conran JG, Bradbury JH (2007) Aspidistras, amphipods and Oz: niche opportunism between strangers in a strange land. Plant Species Biol 22:41–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conran JG, Tamura MN (1998) Convallariaceae. In: Kubitzki K (ed) Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The families and genera of vascular plants, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, pp 186–198

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dafni A (1984) Mimicry and deception in pollination. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 15:259–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dafni A, Bernhardt P (1990) Pollination of terrestrial orchids of southern Australia and the Mediterranean region. Evol Biol 24:193–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldblatt P, Bernhardt P, Vogan P, Manning J (2004) Pollination by fungus gnats (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) and self-recognition sites in Tolmiea menziesii (Saxifragaceae). Plant Syst Evol 244:55–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hatusima S (1991) Flora of the northern Ryukyus. Asahi Press, Kagoshima

    Google Scholar 

  • Jersáková J, Johnson SD, Kindlmann P (2006) Mechanisms and evolution of deceptive pollination in orchids. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 81:219–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jürgens A, Wee S, Shuttleworth A, Johnson SD (2013) Chemical mimicry of insect oviposition sites: a global analysis of convergence in angiosperms. Ecol Lett 16:1157–1167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato M (1995) The aspidistra and the amphipod. Nature 377:293

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang SY, Tamura MN (2000) Aspidistra. Flora China 24:240–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu KL (1982) Pollination biology of Asarum caudatum (Aristolochiaceae) in northern California. Syst Bot 7:150–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martos F, Cariou ML, Pailler T, Fournel J, Bytebier B, Johnson SD (2015) Chemical and morphological filters in a specialized floral mimicry system. New Phytol 207:225–234

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesler MR, Lu KL (1993) Pollination biology of Asarum hartwegii (Aristolochiaceae): an evaluation of Vogel’s mushroom-fly hypothesis. Madroño 40:117–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesler MR, Ackerman JD, Lu KL (1980) The effectiveness of fungus gnats as pollinators. Am J Bot 67:564–567

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohwi J (1965) Flora of Japan. Shibundo, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Okuyama Y, Kato M, Murakami N (2004) Pollination by fungus gnats in four species of the genus Mitella (Saxifragaceae). Bot J Linn Soc 144:449–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renner SS (2006) Rewardless flowers in the angiosperms and the role of insect cognition in their evolution. In: Waser NM, Olerton J (eds) Plant-pollinator interactions: From specialization to generalization. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 123–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards AJ (1986) Plant breeding systems. George Allen & Unwin, New South Wales

    Google Scholar 

  • Suetsugu K, Sueyoshi M (2017) Subterranean flowers of Aspidistra elatior are mainly pollinated by not terrestrial amphipods but fungus gnats. Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sugawara T (1988) Floral biology of Heterotropa tamaensis (Aristolochiaceae) in Japan. Plant Species Biol 3:7–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugiura N (2014) Pollination and floral ecology of Arundina graminifolia (Orchidaceae) at the northern border of the species’ natural distribution. J Plant Res 127:131–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka H (2009) The handbook of flowers pollinated by insects. Bunichi Sogo Shuppan, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka N (2016) Taxonomic reexamination Aspidistra (Asparagaceae) in Japan with the description of a new subspecies. Makinoa 11:17–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Tillich HJ (2005) A key for Aspidistra (Ruscaceae), including fifteen new species from Vietnam. Feddes Repert 116:313–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tillich HJ (2006) Four new species in Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. (Ruscaceae) from China, Vietnam, and Japan. Feddes Repert 117:139–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tillich HJ (2008) An updated and improved determination key for Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. (Ruscaceae, Monocotyledons). Feddes Repert 119:449–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tillich HJ (2014) The genus Aspidistra Ker-Gawl. (Asparagaceae) in Vietnam. Taiwania 59:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Urru I, Stensmyr MC, Hansson BS (2011) Pollination by brood-site deception. Phytochemistry 72:1655–1666

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA (2016) Aspidistra obtusata sp. nov. (Asparagaceae) from Vietnam. Nord J Bot 34:694–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA (2017) Flowering biology of Aspidistra (Asparagaceae): new data on pollination by dipteran insects. Plant Species Biol 32:412–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA, Kuznetsov AN, Sokoloff DD (2013) A new species of Aspidistra (Ruscaceae s.l., Asparagales) from southern Vietnam, field observations on its flowering and possible pollination by flies (Phoridae). Plant Syst Evol 299:347–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA, Sokoloff DD, Degtjareva GV, Valiejo-Roman CM, Kuznetsov AN (2014a) Aspidistra xuansonensis (Asparagaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam. Phytotaxa 173:226–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA, Galinskaya TV, Degtjareva GV, Valiejo-Roman CM, Samigullin TH, Kuznetsov AN, Sokoloff DD (2014b) Pollination of Vietnamese Aspidistra xuansonensis (Asparagaceae) by female Cecidomyiidi flies: larvae of pollinator feed on fertile pollen in anthers of anthetic bisexual flowers. Am J Bot 101:1519–1531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA, Nuraliev MS, Kuznetsov AN, Kuznetsova SP (2016a) Aspidistra globosa (Asparagaceae, Nolinoideae), a new species with erect stem from southern Vietnam. Phytotaxa 282:46–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vislobokov NA, Nuraliev MS, Kuznetsov AN, Kuznetsova SP (2016b) Aspidistra cylindrica (Asparagaceae), a new species from Southern Vietnam. Syst Bot 41:160–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogel S (1978) Pilzmückenblumen als Pilzmimeten. Flora 167:329–398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson J (1889) On the fertilisation of Aspidistra elatior by slugs. Trans Bot Soc Edinb 17:495–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Taizo Nakamori for their assistance with insect identification. This work was financially supported by the JSPS KAKENHI (Grant number 17H05016).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan

    Kenji Suetsugu

  2. Forest Zoology Group, Kyushu Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 4-11-16 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860–0862, Japan

    Masahiro Sueyoshi

Authors
  1. Kenji Suetsugu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masahiro Sueyoshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenji Suetsugu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Suetsugu, K., Sueyoshi, M. Specialized pollination by fungus gnats in the introduced population of Aspidistra elatior. J Plant Res 131, 497–503 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-017-1007-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10265-017-1007-4

Keywords

  • Brood site mimicry
  • Deceptive pollination
  • Fungal mimicry
  • Mycetophilidae
  • Sciaridae