FLOWERING PHENOLOGY AND POLLEN PRODUCTION OF THREE EARLY SPRING Pulsatilla SPECIES

Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek

University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland

Jacek Jachuła

University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland

Marta Dmitruk

University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland

Elżbieta Pogroszewska

University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland



Abstract

Blooming biology and pollen production of the following species: Pulsatilla zimmermannii Soó, P. halleri (All.) Willd., and P. vulgaris Mill. grown in UMCS Botanical Garden in Lublin, Poland (51°16'N, 22°30'E) was studied. The species attract insect visitors with large (size 6–8 cm in diameter), colourful, campanulate, actinomorphic flowers. The androecium is multistaminate (min–max: 142–282 anthers per flower), spirally arranged. Minute droplets of nectar were noted at the base of androecium and on stami-nodes. The anthers dehisced subsequently and pollen of a single flower was available to insects for 5–11 (7) days. On average, P. zimmermannii was found to produce the highest amount of pollen (9.16 g per 1 m2), which was 2 times more pollen than P. vulgaris (4.22 g per 1 m2), while P. halleri produced 7.63 g per 1 m2. Pollen grains of the Pulsatilla species are medium in size (P axis ranged 29.8–38.4 μm, and E axis ranged 32.3–39.6 μm) and are oblate-spheroid in shape (P/E index ranged between 0.90 and 0.95). If planted together, the species will provide pollen from first days of April until end of the month, i.e. during the period when seasonal activity of Apoidea insects begins. Pulsatilla species might contribute to lists of garden plants that attract insect visitors with abundant pollen reward and minute nectar.

Keywords:

flowering, staminodes, pollen output, pollen shape, Pulsatilla spp.

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Published
2016-12-31



Monika Strzałkowska-Abramek 
University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland
Jacek Jachuła 
University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland
Marta Dmitruk 
University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland
Elżbieta Pogroszewska 
University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland



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