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Scent emissions and floral nutrients of Carludovicoideae (Cyclanthaceae) and their importance for associated beetles

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Abstract

To better understand the complex pollination biology of Carludovicoideae (Cyclanthaceae), four species from French Guiana were investigated in both the field and laboratory. The pistillate flowers of all species of the subfamily have long staminodes up to 10 cm long or more, which emit scent and apparently attract beetles during anthesis. Scent was collected by standard headspace methods and analyzed in the laboratory by GC/MS. The histology of staminodes, measurements of inflorescence temperatures, and analyses of the floral nutrients were performed. The staminodes have two ducts with a mucilage-like liquid containing sugar, which provides nourishment for beetle visitors. In Evodianthus funifer, four of the six beetle morphospecies (Curculionidae: Acalyptini) were pollinators and oviposited in staminate flowers. The remaining pair of morphospecies were non-pollinators, and avoided entering the inflorescence, while only cutting the staminodes for possible oviposition on the ground. Staminate flowers and staminodes have a high energy content, providing for larval development of the beetles. Our findings revealed that the staminodes released aromatic components, miscellaneous cyclic components, and terpenoids. Some of the major scent compounds of E. funifer and Ludovia lancifolia, i.e., (E,E)-α-farnesene-2(3),9(10)-diepoxid and 3-methylen-2-(pent-2(Z)-enyl)-cyclopentanol, are new to science. Also, Carludovicoideae are a subfamily of plants that attract beetle pollinators through highly specific scent compounds, making them comparable to species of Araceae, Magnoliaceae, and Annonaceae.

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Acknowledgements

The field work of Holger Teichert in Les Nouragues was supported by Pierre Charles-Dominique, Philippe Gaucher, and several other French colleagues; his laboratory work in Ulm by Ellen Salzer; and his studies with the cultivated Stelestyles surinamensis by the gardeners of the green houses at the Botanical Garden of Ulm University. Roman Kaiser kindly identified the scent compounds and has given permission to use the results for the present publication. Ilse Silberbauer-Gottsberger suggested many improvements of the manuscript, and Graciela Hintze kindly prepared the photoplates. Two anonymous reviewers and Hugh Morris were extremely helpful with many English and scientific edits, corrections, and suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ulm, Germany

    Holger Teichert

  2. Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstr. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Stefan Dötterl

  3. Botanischer Garten/Herbarium, Hans-Krebs-Weg, Universität Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Germany

    Gerhard Gottsberger

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  1. Holger Teichert
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  2. Stefan Dötterl
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  3. Gerhard Gottsberger
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Correspondence to Gerhard Gottsberger.

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Handling editor: Livia Wanntorp.

Holger Teichert: Former address: Institut für Systematische Botanik und Ökologie, Albert Einstein Allee, Universität Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.

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Teichert, H., Dötterl, S. & Gottsberger, G. Scent emissions and floral nutrients of Carludovicoideae (Cyclanthaceae) and their importance for associated beetles. Plant Syst Evol 304, 831–839 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-018-1513-4

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