Petal Color, Flower Temperature, and Behavior in an Alpine Annual Herb, Gentiana leucomelaena (Gentianaceae)

Difference in Floral Traits, Pollination, and Reproductive Success between White and Blue Flowers ofGentiana leucomelaena(Gentianaceae) in an Alpine Meadow

“…One strategy is to produce more white flowers on early-flowering shoots. We have shown previously that the white flowers of G. leucomelaena are more likely to be self-pollinated than blue flowers, which are characteristically insect pollinated (Mu et al, 2011), and that white flowers usually have higher anther temperatures, which facilitate pollen development during the early flowering season (Mu et al, 2010). The other strategy is to produce more protogynous flowers on early-flowering shoots.…”

“…In addition, each of the two flower colors may be either protandrous or protogynous, resulting in four different flower types or "morphs." Previous studies have shown that the white flowers of this species blossom earlier than the blue flowers and that the blue flowers are more likely to be pollinated by insects such as honeybees (Apis cerana), flies, ants, and moths (Mu et al, 2010(Mu et al, , 2011, which might be an adaptation to the rarity of pollinators in early spring in alpine areas (Kudo, 1993;Kudo et al, 2004). In order to further explore the reproductive ecology of this species, we measured average plant aboveground biomass, the frequency of flowering shoots, the proportion of protogyny and protandry, insect visitation rates, biomass allocation, and seed yield for both flower-color morphs under natural and hand-pollinated conditions at three flowering stages.…”

Sexually-trimorphic interactions with colour polymorphism determine nectar quality in a herbaceous perennial

“…Most studies report no difference between colour morphs1011, but one study found that lighter morphs (white) had better nectar quality than dark (pink) morphs12. Petal colouration can affect flower temperature32. It is generally believed that darker flowers are warmer, though evidence from wild studies is mixed3233 probably because there are several selective forces acting on petal colouration and flower thermogenesis (such as phylogenetic constraints, or due to the role of flower pigmentation in stress tolerance, e.g 34…”

The Gentianaceae - Volume 1: Characterization and Ecology

“…Mu et al (2010) described an alpine herbaceous species, G. leucomelanea which has two flower colors, namely blue and white. Mu et al (2010) described an alpine herbaceous species, G. leucomelanea which has two flower colors, namely blue and white.…”