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Abstract Detail


Pollination Biology

Georgian, Elizabeth [1], Emshwiller, Eve [2].

Pollination of Rhododendron in the Himalayas of China.

While collecting in Yunnan Province, China more than half a century ago, Frank Kingdon-Ward (1956) became interested in the pollinators of Rhododendron subgenus Hymenanthes subsection Neriiflora, however the pollinators remain unstudied. Due to the extreme environment of the Himalayas and floral morphological characteristics such as a tubular corolla and profuse nectar production found in species of subsection Neriiflora the pollinators have been predicted as birds. Despite the evidence for bird pollinators, observations have been made of insects visiting Rhododendron species that have floral morphology typical for attracting bird pollinators(E.G. 2010 &2011). In Weixi, in March 2012, 24 hour observations, detailed morphological measurements and studies of nectar composition were used to study the pollinating species of Rhododendron floccigerum. Observations were made of birds, squirrels and bees robbing nectar. Our preliminary results show that birds may not be the pollinators of Rhododendron floccigerum.

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1 - University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Botany, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Dr, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
2 - University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Botany Dept, 321 Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

Keywords:
polliination
rhododendron
Himalayas
Yunnan Province.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Battelle South/Convention Center
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPL001
Abstract ID:136


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