Abstract
Abstract The geographical distribution of pollinators is an important factor determining the biogeographical pattern of floral evolution and diversification. In Africa, a guild of plant species has converged in a floral syndrome for pollination by long‐tongued hawkmoths (predominantly Agrius convolvuli ). It is hypothesized that such floral convergence could track the geographical distribution of long‐tongued hawkmoths, so it may not be confined to Africa. We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson, which is endemic to China and exhibits traits suggestive of long‐tongued hawkmoth pollination. Lilium sargentiae was visited by A . convolvuli as well as small beetles (Nitidulidae) but pollination was mostly or totally effected by the moth. It was consistent with other hawkmoth‐pollinated plants in terms of floral tube length, nectar traits, tepal reflectance, and scent composition. We present the first experimental evidence for the hypothesis proposed above and for hawkmoth pollination in the widespread and ornamentally and economically important genus Lilium L. in a natural habitat. Our findings imply that long‐tongued hawkmoths (especially the extremely widespread A . convolvuli ) as a distinctive pollinator niche may have underlain the evolution of long‐tubed (>8 cm) flowers across different continents.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Pollination of Lilium sargentiae was mostly or totally effected by the hawkmoth A . convolvuli.
- Taxon
- Lilium sargentiae
._20220805_233145.jpg?width=60)
Lilium sargentiaee0 - Interactor
- A . convolvuli
Agrius convolvulie1pollinator - Outcome
- pollinatione1
- Qualifier
- mostly or totallye1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
._20220805_233145.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson”
e1“Lilium sargentiae was visited by A . convolvuli as well as small beetles (Nitidulidae) but pollination was mostly or totally effected by the moth”
Claim · model-written summary
Lilium sargentiae was visited by small beetles (Nitidulidae).
- Taxon
- Lilium sargentiaeLilium sargentiaee0
- Interactor
- small beetles (Nitidulidae)Nitidulidaee1other
- Outcome
- visitede1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson”
e1“Lilium sargentiae was visited by A . convolvuli as well as small beetles (Nitidulidae) but pollination was mostly or totally effected by the moth”
Claim · model-written summary
Lilium sargentiae was consistent with other hawkmoth-pollinated plants in floral tube length, nectar traits and tepal reflectance.
- Taxon
- Lilium sargentiaeLilium sargentiaee0
- Outcome
- floral tube length, nectar traits, tepal reflectancee3
- Comparator
- other hawkmoth‑pollinated plantse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson”
e3“It was consistent with other hawkmoth‑pollinated plants in terms of floral tube length, nectar traits, tepal reflectance, and scent composition”
Claim · model-written summary
Lilium sargentiae was consistent with other hawkmoth-pollinated plants in scent composition.
- Taxon
- Lilium sargentiaeLilium sargentiaee0
- Outcome
- scent compositione3
- Comparator
- other hawkmoth‑pollinated plantse3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson”
e3“It was consistent with other hawkmoth‑pollinated plants in terms of floral tube length, nectar traits, tepal reflectance, and scent composition”
Claim · model-written summary
First experimental evidence of hawkmoth pollination in the genus Lilium, in a natural habitat.
LiliumOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“We present the first experimental evidence for the hypothesis proposed above and for hawkmoth pollination in the widespread and ornamentally and economically important genus Lilium L. in a natural habitat”
Claim · model-written summary
Long-tongued hawkmoths as a distinctive pollinator niche may have underlain the evolution of long-tubed flowers across continents.
- Taxon
- Lilium sargentiaeLilium sargentiaee0
- Interactor
- long‐tongued hawkmothse6pollinator
- Outcome
- evolution of long‐tubed (>8 cm) flowerse6
- Qualifier
- may have underlaine6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“We investigated the pollination biology of Lilium sargentiae E. H. Wilson”
e6“long‐tongued hawkmoths (especially the extremely widespread A . convolvuli ) as a distinctive pollinator niche may have underlain the evolution of long‐tubed (>8 cm) flowers across different continents”