Abstract:

Large red bowl-shaped flowers characterize the Mediterranean poppy guild  plants, andwere suggested to reflect convergence for beetle pollination. However, the earliest-bloomingspecies in this guild, Anemone coronaria (L.), starts flowering about a month before beetleemergence. Early flowering can be adaptive if the plant receives sufficient pollination by othermeans during this period. We investigated A. coronaria s pollination prospects throughout itsflowering season by monitoring its flowering phenology, the composition of the surroundinginsect community, and insect visitors. Clear protogyny precluded self pollination, and anthesisoccurred gradually over several days. Released pollen was quickly collected by insects,suggesting no major role for wind pollination. Beetles, flies and bees were trapped at the studysite throughout the flowering period. Honeybees were the main anemone visitors during the firstseven weeks of flowering, and were joined by Glaphyrid beetles in the remaining three weeks.Early- and late-blooming flowers had similar female reproductive success. We propose thateffective pollination by honeybees may allow anemones to bloom in early spring and therebyreduce competition for pollinators with later-blooming species. Our results support previousevidence for pollination of red flowers by bees, and for the importance of generalization inpollination interactions in heterogeneous environments.

Website