SELECTION ON COMPLEXITY OF COROLLA OUTLINE IN A HAWKMOTH-POLLINATED VIOLET

Moth- and butterfly-pollinated flowers often have deeply dissected cor ollas, and this pattern has been related to a preference by these poll inators for dissection of floral outlines. This note examines the rela tionship between complexity of corolla outline and fecundity in the ha wkmoth-pollinated violet Viola cazorlensis (Violaceae). The complexity of the corolla contour, measured using the fractal dimension of the o utline, differed significantly among plants and was directly related t o absolute fruit production and proportional fruit set. The results su pport the notion that moths discriminate among plants in favour of tho se with more deeply dissected corollas.