Pollination of certain Leucadendron species (Proteaceae)

Female plants of several species of the dioecious genus Leucadendron (Proteaceae) were regularly observed for possible insect pollinators. Leucadendron was found to be beetle pollinated with Pria cinerascens Er. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) the principal pollinator of L. salignum and L. laureolum, and a Rhizophagus sp. (Coleoptera: Rhizophagidae) the principal pollinator of L. tinctum. L. daphnoides was pollinated by a guild of small Coleoptera, Diptera and by the honey bee Apis mellifera. L. sessile was primarily pollinated by members of the Alticinae (Coleoptera: Alticidae) and Ceutorhynchinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and L. microcephalum by P. cinerascens and a ceutorhynchinid. Experiments showed that L. coniferum was wind pollinated but L. salignum, L. sessile, L. gandogeri and L. tinctum were not. The pollination of the inconspicuous, yellowish flowers of Leucadendron by small non-specialized beetles is in accordance with the pollinaton syndrome for dioecious tropical trees. Vroulike plante van verskeie tweehuisige Leucadendron (Proteaceae) spesies is gereeld ondersoek vir moontlike bestuiwers. Leucadendron is deur kewers bestuif met Pria cinerascens Er. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) die hoofbestuiwer van L. salignum en L. laureolum, en ’n Rhizophagus sp. (Coleoptera: Rhizophagidae) die hoofbestuiwer van L. tinctum, L. daphnoides is deur verskeie klein Coleoptera, Diptera en deur Apis mellifera bestuif. L. sessile is hoofsaaklik deur lede van die Alticinae (Coleoptera: Alticidae) en Ceutorhynchinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) bestuif, en L. microcephalum deur P. cinerascens en ’n Ceutorhynchinid. Experimente het getoon dat L. coniferum windbestuif was maar L. salignum, L. sessile, L. gandogeri en L. tinctum nie. Die bestuiwing van die redelik onopvallende, gelerige blomme van Leucadendron deur klein, nie-gespesialiseerde kewertjies is in ooreenstemming met die bestuiwingsindroom vir tweehuisige tropiese bome.