REPRODUCTIVE-BIOLOGY AND FLORAL PHENOLOGIES OF THE SYMPATRIC SPECIES LEPTOSPERMUM-MYRSINOIDES AND L-CONTINENTALE (MYRTACEAE)

The reproductive biology and floral phenologies of co-occurring Leptos permum myrsinoides and L. continentale were investigated. Both species have similar floral structure and both are protandrous. Anther dehisc ence is staggered over approximately 6 days and pollen viability remai ns high for at least 3 days. The styles of both species are short at a nthesis but extend during the next 6 days to approximately the same he ight as the anthers. The stigmas of these species do not achieve maxim um receptivity until at least 4 days after anthesis. Both species are self-compatible. At the three sites studied, L. myrsinoides and L. con tinentale have separate flowering times with L. myrsinoides always flo wering first. Within populations of each species, plants reached first flower and peak flower in the same order in 1989 and 1990, implying g enetic control over flowering time. It is suggested that protandry in these species enhances the likelihood of outcrossing and the staggered release of pollen coupled with the degree of overlap within flowering populations increases the number of potential mates available to each flower.