300013 VO+UE Special course: Flowers and pollination ecology (2009S)

In this course (a combination of lectures and practical units) a survey is given on the morphological (architectural) and functional diversity of the flower and the floral ecology

Course outline:

The flower of Monocotyledons (Liliidae)

The flower of Orchidaceae: analysis of the flower of the five subfamilies of orchids: tri-, di- and monandrous flower types, homology of labellum, stamens and staminodes, progressions regarding stigma (-->rostellum), sectile pollen to pollinia, different construction and step-wise elaboration of pollinaria.

Perianth of Dicotyledons.Perigone in primitive Dicots, calyx/corolla-differentiation in Ranunculaceae. Calyx functions: protection (by different modes of aestivation, interlace of papillae etc. ), attraction , nectar production, water calyx , involvement in fruit dispersal. Epicalyces of Rosaceae, Malvaceae etc. Corolla: morphological and functional diversity.

Androecium. Primary and secondary polyandry. Oligandry, advantages and constraints. Structure of the individual stamen. Staminodia. Pollen as a reward; pollen flowers. Partially and fully deceptive pollen flowers.

Gynoecium. Choricarpy, architecture of of carpel, primitive carpels, syncarpy, progressions, pseudomonomery.

Pseudanthia. Occurence within Angiospers, different architectures. Analysis of little known (e.g., Apiaceae: Actinotus, Astrantia, Hacquetia) and complex pseudanthia (Euphorb.: Pedilanthus, Dalechampia). Slides of exotic pseudanthia.

Floral types based on form and function. Fundamental form and function categories of flowers. Concentration is on more complex types such as keel flowers, kettle traps

Floral types based on rewards. Nectar-, pollen-, oil-, perfume- and resin-flowers. Nectar analysis, nectar types, nectar production by different (extrafloral, extranuptial, and floral nectaries). Character syndrome of poly- and oligandrous pollen flowers, buzz-pollination, perfume flowers and their pollination , resin flowers.

Floral 'styles'. Allotropy, eutropy. Character syndromes in relation to insect pollinators. Cantharo-, Melitto-, Psycho-, Sphingophily

Pollination by vertebrates: Birds, bats, non-flying mammals

Uncommon and bizarre flower specialization: Nest-flowers, sexual deception, fungus-gnat flowers, Araceae and orchids

Pollination by wind and water. Flower analysis of anemophilous trees and herbs (grasses). Establishment of character syndrome. Wind- and water-polination in water-plants .