Coevolution with pollinating resin midges led to resin-filled nurseries in the androecia, gynoecia and tepals of Kadsura (Schisandraceae).

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Resin is a defence against herbivores and a floral reward in a few African and South American species whose bee pollinators collect it for nest construction. Here we describe a new role for floral resin from the Asian genus Kadsura (Schisandraceae). Kadsura tepals tightly cover a globe formed by carpels (in females) or near-fused stamens with fleshy connectives (in male flowers of most, but not all species).

Methods

We carried out field observations at four sites in China and used pollinator behavioural assays, chemical analyses and time-calibrated insect and plant phylogenies to investigate the specificity of the interactions and their relationship to floral structure.

Key results

Nocturnal resin midges ( Resseliella , Cecidomyiidae) walk around o

SUBMITTER: Luo SX 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5714246 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature