Reproductive Biology of Two Sympatric Species of <i>Polyalthia</i> (Annonaceae) in Sri Lanka. I. Pollination by Curculionid Beetles

Abstract

The pollination biology of two sympatric species, Polyalthia coffeoides and Polyalthia korinti (Annonaceae), is described in detail. An Endaeus species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is shown to be the major pollinator of both species, with Carpophilus plagiatipennis (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) as the secondary pollinator of P. coffeoides. Both Polyalthia species show intrafloral dichogamy (protogyny) with a reproductively inactive phase between the pistillate and staminate phases, although there is no evidence of interfloral dichogamy. A pollination chamber is formed by the inner petals throughout the reproductively active phases. Thermogenesis occurs in P. korinti, with internal floral temperatures up to 6°C above ambient levels. The heat is presumably an energy reward for the beetles. Although most pollination systems are regarded as diversified and opportunistic, specialized pollination systems are typical of the Annonaceae. Although P. coffeoides and P. korinti have overlapping distributions, habitats, and flowering seasons and share the same pollinators, the extent of competition for pollinators is likely to be lessened due to the abundance and nonspecificity of the beetles.