Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Amer. J. Bot.
Volume
68
Publication Date
1-1-1981
First Page
389
Last Page
394
Abstract
The pollination of Paspalum dilatatum was studied in south-central Oklahoma during the summer of 1979. Pollen was liberated between 0700-0900 hr except on humid mornings ( RH >= 80%), when there was a delay of 2-3 hr and a reduction in the total air-borne pollen concentration. A rapid decrease in air-borne pollen concentration with distance from the source results from: I) individual pollen grains larger (50-70 μ, in diam) than typical wind-pollinated plants, and 2) some pollen dispersed as clusters of grains. Several flora l characters of P. dilatatum led to a hypothesis that this perennial grass may be entomophilous as well as anemophilous. Not only were th e pollen grains larger than most other wind-pollinated taxa but the species produced fewer th an 2,500 pollen grains per ovule. Three additional observations corroborate this view: I) solitary bees (Halictidae) actively collect pollen during the morning, 2) the number of pollen grains per stigma was significantly (P < 0.001) greater on racemes exposed to both wind and bees than on racemes exposed only to wind, and 3) the combination of bees and wind as pollinators significantly (P < 0 .00 I) increased seed set compared to wind a lone.
Recommended Citation
Adams, Dwight E.; Perkins, W. Ethen; and Estes, James R., "Pollinations Systems in Paspalum Dilatatum Poir. (Poaceae): An Example of Insect Pollination in a Temperate Grass" (1981). A. Paper 26.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/bee_lab_a/26