Reproductive isolation among three sympatric <i>Achimenes</i> species: pre‐ and post‐pollination components

Abstract

This study indicated that neither autogamy nor early post-pollination barriers prevent interspecific pollen flow between Achimenes species. However, floral isolation, acting through a combination of attraction and reward traits, consistently ensures specificity of the pollination system. These results suggest that selection on floral traits to reduce the costs of hybrid progeny production may have played a role in evolution or maintenance of specialized pollination systems in Achimenes.