Document Type

Article

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication Date

1999

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Prairie Naturalist

Volume

30

Abstract

We examined the mating system 'of candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica), a herbaceous prairie perennial. Four lines of evidence suggested that this species is autogamous: first, anthers shed pollen as stigmas matured, resulting in homogamy; second, only 7% of emasculated flowers received any pollen (usually one grain), and none set fruit; third, caged and open pollinated flowers had nearly 100% fruit set; and fourth, the pollen-ovule ratio was 371 ± 54,7(±S.D.), within the known range of autogamous species. Understanding the mating system of prairie species is important to conservation efforts because autogamous species, such as Anemone cylindrica, are more likely to survive in a fragmented landscape than xenogamous species, which are dependent on pollinator service. However, small populations of autogamous and xenogamous species are equally vulnerable to destruction by stochastic events. Thus, autogamous as well as xenogamous species will benefit by protection at the habitat level.

Keywords

Autogamy, reproductive biology, mating system, pollination, Iowa, sustainability

Published Article/Book Citation

The article was published in Prairie Naturalist, 30:3 (1999), pp. 169-178. The article was published in Slavic Review, 57:3 (1998), pp. 585-606. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2500713 Author Posting. Copyright © North Dakota Natural Science Society, 1999. This article is posted here by permission of the publisher for personal use, not for redistribution.

Rights

Author Posting. Copyright © North Dakota Natural Science Society, 1999. This article is posted here by permission of the publisher for personal use, not for redistribution.

Recommended Citation

Molano-Flores, B. and S.D. Hendrix. "The reproductive biology of candle anenome" The Prairie Naturalist (1999) 30:3, pp. 169-178.

 

URL

http://ir.uiowa.edu/biology_pubs/7