Flowering morphology, phenology and flower visitors of the Australian rainforest tree Ryparosa kurrangii (Achariaceae)

Bruce L. Webber, Alan S.O. Curtis, Gerasimos Cassis, Ian E. Woodrow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The understorey tree Ryparosa kurrangii B.L. Webber (Achariaceae) is restricted to a limited number of populations in three distinct valleys of lowland tropical rainforest in northern Queensland, Australia. To provide baseline information for determining potential pollen vectors and the opportunity for inter-population gene flow, flowering morphology, phenology and flower visitation were studied in natural populations over a number of seasons. Contrary to all previous work, R. kurrangii was found to be monoecious, with temporally separated flushes of staminate and carpellate flowers. Flower production was primarily basicauliflorous on the main trunk with small open flowers borne on long racemes. Heavy nocturnal scented nectar production coincided with peak animal visitation. Predominant flower visitors were adults of an undescribed species of Monolepta Chevrolet sensu lato (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) and nymphs of Coridzolon australiense Carvalho & Gross (Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae: Hyalopeplini). Now that the floral biology and morphology as well as the dominant flower visitors of R. kurrangii have been documented, further work is required to determine the likely contribution of flower visitors to pollination events and population gene flow.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7-17
Number of pages11
JournalAustralian Entomologist
Volume35
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 10 Mar 2008
Externally publishedYes

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