Pollination biology of Ternstroemia laevigata and T. dentata (Theaceae)

Abstract

The flowers of two species of Ternstroemia from Central Amazonia were observed to be pollinated by female bees performing vibrational foraging. The anthers of these flowers are longitudinally dehiscent. They are completely included in a petal tube, which opens by a small pore at the apex. Pollen is expelled out of this pore when the bees vibrate the flower while curling over the apex of the petal tube. The much elongated connectives probably transmit the vibrations from the petals to the anthers. The possible occurrence of this mode of pollination in other species of Ternstroemia is briefly discussed. © 1993 Springer-Verlag.