Pollination of Begonia boliviensis in North West Argentina

Abstract

Argentinian populations the tepals were broader and the flowers were open instead of tubular (compare Figures 1 and 2). Because the Argentinian plants had open flowers insects were able to gain entry to the flowers and search for food. It has been suggested that many of the populations of B. boliviensis in Argentina have picked up genes from past hybridization with B. micranthera (Tebbitt & Andrada, 2017). While the plants we studied at our two sites in Argentina did not look like obvious hybrids it is possible that genes picked up from B. micranthera have resulted in their broader tepals and more open flowers. Such a change in flower shape would have allowed B. boliviensis to switch from hummingbird to insect pollination. In locations, such as the Bolivian study-sites, where the flowers are more tubular insects have more difficulty accessing the flowers, and here humming- birds are probably the main pollinators. To determine if this really is the case, we need more data, especially regarding what animals visit those B. boliviensis plants with more tubular-shaped flowers. But for now we are happy - by documenting that insect do at least visit some wild popula- tions of B. boliviensis we have added one more piece of information to the puzzle.