The pollination system and stigmatic cuticle of clianthus puniceus (fabaceae)

Abstract

Clianthus puniceus and C. puniceus var. maximus have a protective cuticle covering the stigma. When intact this cuticle prevents pollination, but when it is ruptured pollination can occur. At flower senescence the cuticle on C. puniceus ruptures allowing self-pollination to occur, whereas on C. puniceus var. maximus it usually remains intact. An absence of pollinators for C. puniceus var. maximus is likely to limit seed set in wild populations. © 1998 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.