The pollinators of Astrophytum

About pollinators there are no field observations published. But it is likely that essentially solitary bees such as Diadasia rinconis (Apidae) are involved. Their flight distances are not more than about 1000 m, resulting in important conclusions for the genetic reproduction mechanism of small, finite populations. In a study on fruit set and seed numbers with free pollination of Astrophytum asterias in Starr County at 35 blooms there were only 7 fruits with an average of 15 seeds (AW STRONG; PS WILLIAMSON 2007: The Southwestern Naturalist 52 (3) p. 341-346). For hand-pollination, one counts on average 70 seeds per fruit. The effectiveness of pollination and reproduction of a population depends therefore very much also with the environmental conditions for pollinators.

In culture as pollinators are bees, bumble bees, flies and hoverflies.

photos:
pollinators in the greenhouse
pollination and seed-harvest
protection of the nectar-champer

genus Astrophytum
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