Flexible style that encourages outcrossing

Qing-Jun Li (), Zai-Fu Xu, W. John Kress, Yong-Mei Xia, Ling Zhang, Xiao-Bao Deng, Jiang-Yun Gao and Zhi-Lin Bai
Additional contact information
Qing-Jun Li: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zai-Fu Xu: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
W. John Kress: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
Yong-Mei Xia: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ling Zhang: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiao-Bao Deng: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiang-Yun Gao: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zhi-Lin Bai: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature, 2001, vol. 410, issue 6827, 432-432

Abstract: Abstract Despite the convenience of self-pollination (selfing) in flowering plants 1,2,3, the detrimental effects of inbreeding that follow repeated selfing3,4 have promoted strong natural selection for mating systems that ensure successful cross-fertilization (outcrossing). Here we describe a mechanism deployed by some tropical ginger flowers to avoid self-pollination — the flower moves its stigma (style), which normally acts as the pollen receptor, out of the way while its anther is releasing pollen. This cunning evasion adds to the diversity of pollination strategies that have contributed to the evolutionary success of flowering plants.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35068635

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