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Reduced Photoperiod Induces Partially Synchronous Flowering in an Understory Rain Forest Herb, Begonia urophylla in Costa Rica
Author(s) -
Rivera Jeanette,
Cozza John
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biotropica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.813
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1744-7429
pISSN - 0006-3606
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00385.x
Subject(s) - understory , begonia , herb , plant reproductive morphology , photoperiodism , bloom , biology , adaptation (eye) , botany , horticulture , ecology , canopy , medicinal herbs , traditional medicine , medicine , neuroscience
The monoecious understory herb Begonia urophylla blooms in the dry season at Las Cruces, Costa Rica, and bloom is partially synchronized. A laboratory experiment investigated reduced photoperiod as an unambiguous cue for flowering. The inductive period was 3 weeks for flowers but less for bud formation. Variation in bloom time may be an adaptation to enhance fitness gain of plants, such as B. urophylla , with sequential male and female phases.