|
Pollination 2 |
 |
|
Regardless of what species may be involved in pollinating species of Columnea, it appears that most species that have been examined are capable of self-pollinating to produce fruit and viable seeds. Selfing is common in many plants and is where the pollen from the same flower, or other flowers on the same individual are capable of fertilizing the eggs of the same flower or same individual. This can be advantageous in areas where plants may occur at low frequencies, often the case of epiphytes and many species of Columnea. However, most species of Columnea that I have observed in cultivation also have a means to optimize fertilization with another individual (see C. harrissi). Although flowers contain both the stamens and the carpels, the stamens are typically fertile first, often for 1-3 days before the carpels are fertile. After this time the filaments of the stamens drop down or coil up, pulling the pollen-producing anthers back into the flower and away from the stigma that becomes fertile later. In addition to being capable of self-pollinating, many species of Columnea are capable of fertilizing other species, thus forming inter-specific hybrids. Although this phenomenon may not occur frequently in the wild, there has been at least one well--documented case in Jamaica, and probably others in South America. However, anyone who has been able to grow two species of Columnea that flower at the same time can generate these hybrids by exchanging the pollen between the flowers and raising the seedlings that come from the fruits. Columnea strigosa is unusual among species of Columnea in having a larger than average corolla opening and often long pedicels that can be 30 cm long. As such, this species has received speculation that its pollinator may be a species of bat rather than hummingbird. The large orange or yellow corollas and long pedicels are not outside the range of bat pollination syndromes, however most bat pollinated species have strong musty odors, which C. strigosa lacks. The mystery will have to remain until someone undertakes a more thorough investigation.
|
|
