Resumen de Pollination ecology of Sida acuta, S. cordata and S. cordifolia (Malvaceae)
A.J. Solomon Raju, D Sandhya Rani
Sida acuta, S. cordata and S. cordifolia (Malvaceae) exhibit almost the same flowering phenology, floral morphology, floral biology, sexual, breeding and pollination systems, fruiting behavior, and seed dispersal.
They complete vegetative and reproductive events in quick succession during rainy season and disperse seeds at the onset of dry season. Their simultaneous flowering, anthesis schedules, anther dehiscence schedules, and similar floral structural and functional characteristics attract the same bees, wasps and butterflies to their flowers. Bees use these plants as principal pollen source, while wasps and butterflies use them as a nectar source and thus contact the anthers and stigmas and pollinate the flowers. The plants display functional autogamy and allogamy, and produce the highest natural fruit set and seed set. Fruits mature quickly, split apart and disperse seeds into the air early in the dry season. The seeds are dispersed by wind, humans, animals, and rain water. Sida species are suitable for initial restoration of degraded, disturbed and mined habitats. As annual weeds, they have a unique role to play in plant community restoration, bloom quickly and sustain diverse insect pollinators, as well as herbivore communities.
