Janusia anisandra (A. Juss.) Griseb (Malpighiaceae): The first case of enantiostyly in oil‐flower species

Abstract

AbstractEnantiostyly is a floral polymorphism characterized by style deflection to the right and left, which results in flowers with mirror images. To date, enantiostyly occurs only in species that offer pollen or nectar as floral resource. Here we describe the first case of enantiostyly in an oil‐flower species. Janusia anisandra (A. Juss.) Griseb (Malpighiaceae) shows right and left‐styled flowers in individuals occurring in an area of tropical dry forest in Northeastern Brazil. We described the floral morphology, investigate the reproductive system, and made focal observations of flower visitors behaviour. J. anisandra has morphological traits that are part of the floral conservatism found in the neotropical species of Malpighiaceae, which preserves features that are decisive for the interaction with oil‐collecting bees of the Centridini tribe, performing a highly specialized pollination system. The six stamens (two major and four smaller), located in the center of the flower, characterizes heteranthery, an intrafloral polymorphism, in which the stamens differ in shape, size, and function and is commonly associated with enantiostyly. We identified the two floral morphs in the same individual, characterizing a monomorphic enantiostyly; each of the morphs differs by lateral displacement of the style to the right or to the left, always accompanied by one larger stamen. The species is moderately self‐compatible. Four species of solitary bees of the genus Centris were registered visiting the two morphs of J. anisandra flowers. Centris aenea and C. fuscata were the main pollinators, performing 65% of the visits. This new discovery of a classical monomorphic enantiostyly in J. anisandra opens the way for investigations in the evolution of this system in oil‐secreting flowers.