Geitonogamy: a mechanism responsible for high selfing rates in borage (Borago officinalis L.)

Borage, a species traditionary defined as allogamous, has revealed a high s elfing rate although a mechanism of protandry has been confirmed in this pl ant. Studies investigating flower behaviour showed that several flowers ope n every day and that others are also receptive at the same time within a pl ant. Moreover, pollinator behaviour, mainly by bees, contributes to the sel fing rate because it is demonstrated that these insects visit several flowe rs in a given plant before flying to other plants. The ecological studies r eported here reveal the contribution of geitonogamous pollination to the hi gh selfing rate detected in Borago officinalis L.