Trap-flower fly pollination in East African Ceropegia L. (Apocynaceae)
2004
Masinde, P Siro
Pollination in the genus Ceropegia L. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae- Ceropegieae) in East Africa is discussed based on field observations and herbarium studies. All inferred or confirmed pollinators are small, mostly female dipteran flies, c. 2.5 mm long, which carry pollinaria on their proboscis. Identified putative pollinator flies belong to families Milichiidae, Chloropidae and Ceratopogonidae. The most important factors for an insect to effect pollination appear to be the appropriate overall size, i.e. small size of c. 3 × 3 mm at most, and appropriate mouth parts, i.e. extendible probosces with suitable surfaces and adjacent pads on which a pollinarium can attach. The complex and diverse floral morphology of the tubular flowers and their disposition as well as other commonly occurring features namely, diverse interior and exterior coloration, diverse scents, secretions such as nectar and water droplets, vibratile corolla lobes and hairs, specialized hairs, interior sculpturing, sliding zones and differential lighting within the flower are important mechanisms for attracting and detaining insect pollinators.
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