Floral Pigments and Nectar Constituents of Two Bat-Pollinated Plants: Coloration, Nutritional, and Energetic Considerations

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Abstract
Anthocyanin pigments and nectar constituents of Cheirostemon platanoides and Kigelia pinnata were analyzed to define provisionally a bat syndrome of floral phytochemical characters. Amounts and composition of sugar, protein, amino acid and phenolic nectar constituents are presented. Genetic homology with related taxa appears to dominate over special adaptation to pollination by bats in determining floral pigments but some evidence of adaptative change is present in nectar sugar composition. The contribution of nectar constituents to bat nutrition and energetics is discussed.

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