Bumblebee visitation and pollen dynamics in <i>Palicourea coriacea</i> (Rubiaceae): does coflowering with congeneric species matter?

ABSTRACT: The flowering phenology of many closely related species in the Brazilian Cerrado coincides with the onset of the rainy season, where sequential flowering often occurs with some overlap. Transitioning from solitary flowering to coflowering with congeneric species may alter the pollination environment, affecting pollen delivery and deposition patterns. Coflowering among conspecifics concurrently requires pollination niche differentiation to minimize reproductive costs. This study tested these concepts in the distylous Palicourea coriacea during two flowering periods: early in the season when it flowered alone, and later with conspecific P. officinalis, also distylous. Pollination syndromes were assessed by measuring corolla length, nectar volume and sugar concentration, and rep

SUBMITTER: Perez-Barrales R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12190807 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature