The diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large plant clades: Apocynaceae as a case study

Abstract

Within Apocynaceae, interactions with pollinators are highly structured both phylogenetically and biogeographically. Variation in transition rates between pollination systems suggest constraints on their evolution, whereas regional differences point to environmental effects such as filtering of certain pollinators from habitats. This is the most extensive analysis of its type so far attempted and gives important insights into the diversity and evolution of pollination systems in large clades.

Speciation, pattern recognition and the maximization of pollination: general questions and answers given by the reproductive biology of the orchid genus Ophrys

“…Local species communities within the Polemoniaceae consist predominantly of different pollination types (Plitmann and Levin 1990 ). A comparable investigation was recently published for the plant family Apocynaceae (Ollerton et al 2019 ).…”

How different is similar – exploring development of Ceropegia sandersonii pitfall flowers to elucidate convergent evolution of floral synorganization

“…Among the ten largest plant families, the milkweeds (Apocynaceae) are remarkably with regard to diversity in growth form, ower morphology, and pollination strategies (3). Especially species in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae show extreme oral complexity and diversity in pollinator usage (3); their owers are most complex with high levels of synorganization (1), which is comparable to what is known from orchids (Orchidaceae; 4). Because of their similar levels of oral synorganization, Asclepiadoideae are sometimes referred to as "dicotyledon orchids" (2).…”

A fishing expedition to discover the pollinators of several subtropical Apocynaceae

“…A wide diversity of pollination syndromes and many kinds of floral visitors (mostly insects) have been documented in the Apocynaceae (Ollerton et al., ). Although many taxa with pollinaria have been well studied (e.g., Asclepias L., Ceropegia L., and Cynanchum L.), less is known about the reproductive biology of the non‐asclepioid members of the Apocynaceae family (Ollerton et al., ). The flowers of this diverse and species‐rich family exhibit a stepwise accumulation of floral characters, from the simplest structures in the Plumerioideae to the highly complex flowers of the Asclepiadoideae.…”

“…A wide diversity of pollination syndromes and many kinds of floral visitors (mostly insects) have been documented in the Apocynaceae (Ollerton et al, 2019). Although many taxa with pollinaria have been well studied (e.g., Asclepias L., Ceropegia L., and Cynanchum L.), less is known about the reproductive biology of (2) the mid-section where mucilage is produced and applied to mouthparts as they pass by, probing for nectar; and (3) the lower receptive stigmatic area, where pollen may be deposited as the mouthparts are retracted, prior to picking up pollen from this same flower.…”

“…Adapted from Barrios and Koptur (2011). the non-asclepioid members of the Apocynaceae family (Ollerton et al, 2019). The flowers of this diverse and species-rich family exhibit a stepwise accumulation of floral characters, from the simplest structures in the Plumerioideae to the highly complex flowers of the Asclepiadoideae.…”