Ultimate Functions of Non-Fruiting Flowers in Lathyrus vernus

In this study, four hypotheses concerning female function of non-fruiting flowers in a herbaceous perennial legume, Lathyrus vernus, were examined. I found no evidence that surplus flowers serve to increase the opportunities for maternal selection based on offspring quality, or to decrease seed predation by dispersing oviposition of seed predators. However, a proportion of the cost of surplus flowers may be counterbalanced by gains from increased pollinator attraction and increased fruit set in years with low pollen availability. Furthermore, surplus distal flowers function as reserveovaries if basal flowers are preyed upon or not fertilized. A quantitative model based on the reserve-ovary function predicted half of the surplus flowers actually observed. This study thus suggests that surplus flowers in L. vernus serve several functions simultaneously.