Sexual Reproduction in an Illinois Population of Sanguinaria canadensis L.

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Abstract
The flowering phenology of S. canadensis was quantified by censusing marked plots in 1974, 1975 and 1976. In all years, most flowering was restricted to a short period in early spring, but the period of peak flowering depended on spring temperatures. Experimental field analysis of the breeding system of Sanguinaria indicated that autogamy occurred within several hours of 1st flower opening. This adaptation retains the potential for outcrossing and ensures fertilization during early spring when temperatures are often too low for the flight of insect pollinators. Ovule number per flower was variable and positively correlated with anther and petal number, indicating tight developmental integration of floral organs. Significant differences in mean ovule number per ovary were observed for both spatial and temporal comparisons of populations, suggesting that growth conditions affect ovule development. The ovule production pathway suggested for Sanguinaria allows fecundity to track habitat quality, thus increasing plasticity in reproductive output.

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