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Evolution of lure-and-trap pollination in Arum
Most plant species attract their pollinators by offering rewards such as nectar or pollen and there has been a great deal of research into how this increases the species diversity of both plants and pollinators. However, some plant species lure their pollinators in with false promise of rewards and then trap for a while to increase the chance of them pollinating the flowers. We are investigating how the evolutionary processes involved in lure-and- trap pollination work and their role in the evolution of diverse species in the genus Arum (the Cuckoo-pints). These plants produce inflorescences that smell like dung or rotting meat and lure in flies looking for sites to lay their eggs. This work is being carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Royal Botanic gardens, Kew.
The native British Species of Cuckoo-pint (also called Lords & Ladies) Arum maculatum. This species emits a cow-dung like smell that attracts small flies, particularly Owl Midges Psychoda species.
The insects are then trapped overnight in the chamber at the base of the inflorescence as they cannot get up the slippery chamber walls or past the hairs in the neck of the chamber. They are released the next morning, covered in pollen, when the trap hairs and chamber walls lose turgidity. Below, some other species of Arum being studied. These species live in Crete.
For more details contact Dr Anita Diaz
