REPRODUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF A FLOWER COLOR POLYMORPHISM IN HYDROPHYLLUM-APPENDICULATUM

This study examined the reproductive consequences of a discrete flower color polymorphism in a natural population of the woodland herb, Hydr ophyllum appendiculatum (Hydrophyllaceae). Approximately 3% of the nor mally blue-flowered population consisted of completely white-flowered albinos. The two color morphs did not differ in flower size, seed weig ht, or in the number of seeds produced per inflorescence. However, ave rage seed production per plant was much greater on blue-flowered plant s. In contrast to other speciees with floral polymorphisms, the differ ence in seed production was not due to differential pollinator foragin g behavior: the principal pollinator of H. appendiculatum (Apis mellif era) did not exhibit any preference for color morph. Rather, the diffe rence in seed output was explained by the greater production of inflor escences by the blue morph. This finding suggests that the locus contr olling flower color is genetically associated with the locus controlli ng inflorescence production.