Fruit Production and Phenology of Phacelia covillei S. Watson (Hydrophyllaceae) in the Potomac Gorge Area of Maryland and Virginia
Barrows EM, Howard AF, Steury BW. 2012. Fruit Production and Phenology of Phacelia covillei S. Watson (Hydrophyllaceae) in the Potomac Gorge Area of Maryland and Virginia. Marilandica. 3(1)
The goals of this study are to provide information on selected aspects of the phenology of Phacelia covillei S. Watson in the Potomac Gorge of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region, to ascertain whether this species requires pollination by animals in fruit production in Turkey Run Park, Virginia, and to examine this species' flower, fruit, and seed production in relation to plant size. Observations and experiments indicate that in our study area, P. covillei seeds sprout in September and October; plants overwinter as rosettes; and flower, fruit, and senesce in April through early June. Study plants evidently produced no nectar, and insects infrequently visited their flowers. Phacelia covillei sets seeds through intrafioral autogamy, but can also set seeds through interfioral autogamy and xeno~y based on our handpollination and pollinator-exclusion experiments. The number of branches and flowers, fruit, and seeds produced per original flower per plant varied significantly among plants in three study sites. Flower, fruit, and seed number were positively correlated with branch number, Proximal flowers on inflorescences produced more seeds per original flower than distal ones.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Barrows, Edward; Howard, Aaron; Steury, Brent
- Units
- CHOH , GRFA , GWMP
- Keywords
- Fruit, Phenology, Plants, Potomac, Potomac Gorge, Rare, scientific research