Fly pollination in Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae): biogeographic and phylogenetic perspectives

Abstract

The genus Ceropegia has largely radiated without evolutionary shifts in pollinator functional specialization, maintaining its interactions with small Diptera. Intriguing biogeographic and phylogenetic patterns may reflect processes of regional dispersal, diversification and subsequent specialization onto a narrower range of pollinators, though some of the findings may be caused by inconsistent sampling. Comparisons are made with other plant genera in the Aristolochiaceae and Araceae that have evolved flask-shaped flowers that trap female flies seeking oviposition sites.

Deceptive Ceropegia dolichophylla fools its kleptoparasitic fly pollinators with exceptional floral scent

“…Among these cheaters are plants of the genus Ceropegia L. (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadoideae) with more than 200 described species, characterized by sophisticated pitfall flowers (Vogel, 1961;Masinde, 2004). Despite great morphological diversification, the basic floral structure is similar among these species (see Vogel, 1961), and the functionality of the pollination system is extremely specialized and conservative (Vogel, 1961;Ollerton et al, 2009). Species investigated so far are pollinated by small flies (but see Coombs et al, 2011), which are trapped inside the flowers for a limited time during which they deposit or take up pollinaria/pollinia.…”

“…Species investigated so far are pollinated by small flies (but see Coombs et al, 2011), which are trapped inside the flowers for a limited time during which they deposit or take up pollinaria/pollinia. The fly pollinators of Ceropegia belong to diverse families, but, typically, only species of a single or a few fly families interact with a single species of Ceropegia (Ollerton et al, 2009). This specificity is likely due to distinct floral scents, which are responsible for pollinator attraction (Vogel, 1961;Heiduk et al, 2010).…”

“…This specificity is likely due to distinct floral scents, which are responsible for pollinator attraction (Vogel, 1961;Heiduk et al, 2010). It was suggested that the flowers mimic rotting plant material, male sex pheromones or animal related odors, leading to the idea that pollinating flies are attracted by chemical deceit (Vogel, 1961;Ollerton et al, 2009). In a preliminary analysis on C. dolichophylla Schltr., Heiduk et al (2010) proposed that this species mimics a food-source for its pollinators.…”

The Drosophilidae (Diptera) of the Scattered Islands, with the description of a novel association withLeptadenia madagascariensisDecne. (Apocynaceae)

“…18 Apocynaceae plants are usually myophilic and known to emit odors that mimic fruit substrates. 19 Flies are usually attracted by the flower odor, but once on the flower they do not oviposit. According to the ASCLEPOL database (http://www.bio.unibayreuth.de/planta2/research/pollina/as_pol_d.htm), some drosophilid species were observed visiting different Apocynaceae hosts and carrying their pollinia on their probosces, but never from a species belonging to the genus Leptadenia.…”

Virtual Herbarium of Kerala forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India

“…The relevance of herbarium specimens for reconstructing phenological changes associated with climate warming is well established [17][18][19] . Herbarium specimens have also been used in the fields of chemical ecology 20,21 , pollination ecology 22,23 and insectplant interactions 24 . With the advent of molecular systematics, the protocols for DNA isolation from herbarium specimens have been standardized 25,26 , and DNA extraction protocols from herbarium specimens of vascular plants as old as 200 years have been achieved.…”