The Floral Biology of Nymphaea odorata (Nymphaeaceae)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Flowers of N. odorata open each morning for 3 successive days. The species is protogynous, and 1st-day flowers are pollen-receptive with the stigmas secreting a fluid which fills the perigynous cup. As potential pollinators are attracted and enter 1st-day flowers, they land on the vertical, but flexible, inner stamens which bend, and the insects fall into the stigmatic fluid. The stigmatic fluid washes pollen from the insects, and cross-pollination is achieved. Although most insects escape from the stigmatic fluid, some drown. During the 2nd day of anthesis, the stigmatic fluid disappears, the stigmas become non-receptive and anther dehiscence, which occurs for 2 days, begins. Self-pollination did not occur in the populations studied. Following the 3rd day of anthesis, the flower submerges. The staminal and perianth parts abscise as the fruit matures underwater.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: