Heterostyly in a tropical weed: the reproductive biology of the Turnera ulmifolia complex (Turneraceae)

Abstract

Turnera ulmifolia (Turneraceae) is a polymorphic complex native to the New World tropics which is composed of heterostylous and homostylous forms. The distylous varieties elegans, intermedia, and surinamensis exhibit the typical expression of heterostyly. Floral dimorphism is associated with a strong self-incompatibility system and size dimorphism of pollen. Approximately equal representation of floral morphs occurred in 24 out of 28 New World populations surveyed. In 9 out of 10 populations studied, there were no significant differences between the seed fecundity of floral forms. Populations of the homostylous variety angustifolia are self-compatible and produce monomorphic pollen.In contrast to the majority of heterostylous species, some varieties of T. ulmifolia are ruderal weeds. Varieties angustifolia, elegans, and intermedia are also used as garden ornamentals, and man has played a major role in the expansion of their ranges. Weediness in T. ulmifolia is not associated with features commonly found in other weed species, such as self-compatibility, vigorous clonal propagation, and long-distance seed dispersal. However, the continuous year-round flowering of T. ulmifolia plants gives populations a high reproductive capacity. Seed dispersal is by ants which transport seeds relatively short distances. Local seed dispersal favors the establishment of dense populations and increases the likelihood of seed set. Hence the dispersal system of T. ulmifolia appears to be coadapted with the population requirements of the breeding system.