FLORAL AND POLLINATION BIOLOGY OF THE FOUR EUROPEAN VACCINIUM (ERICACEAE) SPECIES IN THE UPPER ARDENNES, BELGIUM

The existence of closely related species in the same habitat provides a particularly useful opportunity to examine several ideas related to the evolution of mating systems.
A variety of floral traits likely to be associated with the reproductive system of the four European sympatric Vaccinium species (V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, V. uliginosum and V. oxycoccos) were quantified in a peaty heath in the Upper Ardennes in Belgium.
These traits included the number and size of the anthers, the number of pollen tetrads and ovules, and the length of the style.
Pollen/ovule ratios suggest a mixed mating system in the four species.
The greater pollen/ovule ratios in V. vitis-idaea and V. oxycoccos suggest that they function more as outcrossers than the two congeners.
Together the floral traits and selfing ability suggest that the polyploid V. uliginosum appears to be more highly selfing than the two diploid, contrary to the polyploid V. oxycoccos

The four species attracted diverse assemblages of pollinators, principally bumblebees.

VII International Symposium on Pollination

A.-L. Jacquemart

floral biology- mating system- Vaccinium

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.437.52