HybridMimulusflowers attract a new pollinator

Abstract

AbstractHybridization is common in flowering plants and is believed to be an important force driving adaptation and speciation. The hybrid flowers often have new trait combinations, which, theoretically, could attract new pollinators. In this study, we found that the hybrids between a hummingbird-pollinated speciesMimulus cardinalisand a self-pollinated speciesMimulus parishiiattract bumblebees (Bombus impatiens), a pollinator not attracted to either of the progenitor species. This novel attraction is explained by several floral traits in hybrids, including petal color, nectar concentration, and corolla size. We also found that theYUPlocus, previously shown to be important in bee attraction in otherMimulusspecies, also played an important role in this novel attraction. Hybrid plants’ attraction to new pollinators could be an underexplored avenue for pollinator shift and speciation.