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Reproductive Ecology of Ocimum americanum L. and O. basilicum L. (Lamiaceae) in India
Author(s) -
Raju A. J. Solomon
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
plant species biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1442-1984
pISSN - 0913-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-1984.1989.tb00052.x
Subject(s) - biology , basilicum , ocimum , pollinator , botany , anthesis , pollination , pollen , lamiaceae , nectar , stamen , cultivar
Ocimum americanum and O. basilicum bloom once a year. They produce flowers over a long period, a few flowers being produced each day. The flowers of both are short‐lived (3‐4 hours), bisexual, zygomorphic, and chasmogamic with anthers dehiscing in the bud stage. The open flowers offer nectar and pollen as rewards and are visited and sternotribically pollinated by day‐flying animals. The blossoms are flag‐shaped, and the reproductive organs are close to the lower corolla lip. The stamens and stigma show movements immediately after anthesis and remain for 20–30 minutes and this may cause self‐pollination. Both species reproduce primarily through autogamy. Flowers are open during 5:30–13:30 hr in O. americanum and during 7:00–13:00 hr in O. basilicum . Certain bee species like Apis florea, A. cerana indica, Amegilla sp., and Pseudapis oxybeloies , and the butterfly Surandra queretroum are the most frequent and consistent visitors and can be pollinators for both plant species.