Flower Basking by Arctic Insects

Hocking, Brian; Sharplin, C. D.

doi:10.1038/206215b0

Cited by 79 publications

(57 citation statements)

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“…Heliotropism of flowers, the movement of flowers to face the sun, has been observed in alpine, arctic and subarctic regions (Hocking and Sharplin 1965;Kevan 1972Kevan , 1975Smith 1975;Kjellberg et al 1982;Stanton and Galen 1989;Kudo 1995;Krannitz 1996;Totland 1996). These regions are characterised by low temperatures and a short growing season for plant growth and reproduction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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The ecological role of orientation in tropical convolvulaceous flowers

2002

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Flowers of Ipomoea pes-caprae and Merremia borneensis show a preferred orientation, pointing in the general direction of the sun but not exactly tracking the sun. They demonstrated no diurnal heliotropism but strong seasonal heliotropism. The possible effects of this non-random orientation on the heat balance of the flower and the possible consequences on pollination were studied by measuring gynoecium temperature and insect visitation. Differently treated flowers were used to measure gynoecia temperature along with the microclimate: intact flowers, flowers with corollas removed, flowers with the stile and stamens removed, shaded flowers, and flowers constrained to be facing away from the sun. The lowest gynoecium temperature was achieved when the flowers were not constrained and not greased. It is concluded that the natural position of the flower, as well as transpiration, ensures that the temperature of the gynoecium does not reach dangerous levels. Insects preferentially visited sunlit flowers that were free to adopt their natural orientation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The pollinator attraction hypothesis (Hocking and Sharplin 1965;Hocking 1968;Smith 1975;Kudo 1995) holds that the warmth associated with full insolation of the flower is a direct reward for pollinators. 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecological role of orientation in tropical convolvulaceous flowers

2002

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“…Previous studies of flower heliotropism have primarily focused on some taxa in the arctic and subarctic regions, and in American or European alpine environments (Hocking and Sharplin 1965;Kevan 1972;Stanton and Galen 1989;Totland 1996;Wada 1998). These studies indicated that flower heliotropic movement has significant influence on floral and seed developments (Kevan 1972;Kjellberg et al 1982;Young 1984;Wada 1998) and increases the pollination activity of insects on the flowers (Kevan 1975;Smith 1975;Knutson 1981;Molgaard 1989;Stanton and Galen 1989;Luzar and Gottsberger 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flower heliotropism of Anemone rivularis (Ranunculaceae) in the Himalayas: effects on floral temperature and reproductive fitness

Zhang

et al. 2010

Plant Ecol

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The flower heliotropism of Anemone rivularis (Ranunculaceae) was investigated on the Yulong Snow Mountain, near Lijiang in the northwest of the Yunnan province of China. We discovered that tepals in this species drive the peduncles to track the sun, and that this flower heliotropism was likely an adaptation for parental environmental effects on reproductive fitness. In brief, A. rivularis flowers retained sun-tracking behavior following removal of pistils and stamens, but lost heliotropic movement, if tepals were removed. Light is the major factor to affect floral heliotropism, the tepal-received light signal was in the blue frequency. Meanwhile, the peduncles were found to bend significantly on the top portion of both control flowers and those lacking pistils and stamens, but instead of keeping a vertical peduncle orientation in flowers with tepals removed. Furthermore, the floral temperature was steadier, and seed sizes and numbers were greater for control flowers than for flowers with tepals removed. Therefore, we conclude that the tepals trigger the flower heliotropism in A. rivularis and play an important role on not only increasing but also keeping optimal thermal condition of flower interior. We further conclude that flower heliotropism enhances the pollen viability and seed production, resulting in higher reproductive success for this alpine species.

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“…Some track the sun during the course of the day: examples include Papaver radicatum (Hocking and Sharplin, 1965), Dryas octopetala (Kjellberg et al, 1982), Ranunculus adoneus (Stanton and Galen, 1989), and a number of Asteraceae. Others merely point E, facing the dawn, as in the subject of this report, Drosera tracyi MacFarlane in Bailey.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The East-facing Flowers of Drosera tracyi

Wilson¹

1994

American Midland Naturalist

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ABSTRACT.-Drosera tracyi, like its sister taxon Drosera fihliformis, has inflorescences that face toward the morning sun. When inflorescences were manipulated to face W vs. E, direction had no effect on pollen removal from anthers or pollen deposition on stigmas. Facing the sun, in this case, is best interpreted as an evolutionary anachronism that no longer has a function, at least not for the enhancement of pollination where D. tracyi now grows in the Panhandle of Florida and adjacent states.

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Flower Basking by Arctic Insects

Cited by 79 publications

References 1 publication

The ecological role of orientation in tropical convolvulaceous flowers

The ecological role of orientation in tropical convolvulaceous flowers

Flower heliotropism of Anemone rivularis (Ranunculaceae) in the Himalayas: effects on floral temperature and reproductive fitness

The East-facing Flowers of Drosera tracyi

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