Simultaneous movement of style and stamen set during anthesis in Etlingera elatior (Zingiberaceae)

Abstract Etlingera is a genus of the family Zingiberaceae that is native to tropical Asia. Many species are economically important as a source of food, spices, medicines, and ornamental plants. This study aims to elucidate the floral morphology of E. elatior and understand the behavior of the set of stamen and style during floral anthesis, seeking to identify the mechanisms that promote xenogamy in the species. Flower morphology, time of anthesis and movement of the stamen and style during this period, pollen viability, nectar volume, floral visitors, and the reproductive system were evaluated. The flowers of E. elatior exhibited synchronous movement of the style and stamen, however, this movement was not considered as flexistyly, since the species does not present dichogamy. The synchronous movement of the stamen and pistil, by itself, was not enough to promote self-pollination. Fruiting depends on pollinators. The stigma fluid is an important means whereby pollen adheres to the mouthpart of the pollinator. Hummingbirds and bees were considered the most effective pollinators of E. elatior in the area studied.

摘要 茴香砂仁属（Etlingera）是姜科（Zingiberaceae）的一个属，原生分布于热带亚洲区域。该属多数物种兼具经济价值，可作为食用食材、香辛料、药用原料及观赏植物进行开发利用。本研究以火炬姜（Etlingera elatior）为研究对象，旨在阐明其花部形态特征，解析开花期内雄蕊与花柱的运动行为，以期明确该物种促进异花授粉（xenogamy）的内在机制。本研究对其花部形态、开花时间、花期中雄蕊与花柱的运动过程、花粉活力、花蜜含量、访花生物及生殖系统进行了系统评估。结果表明，火炬姜的花展现出雄蕊与花柱的同步运动，但该运动并不属于花柱卷曲性运动（flexistyly），因该物种不存在雌雄异熟（dichogamy）现象。雄蕊与雌蕊的同步运动本身并不足以促成自花授粉，该物种的结实过程依赖传粉媒介。柱头液是花粉附着于传粉者口器的重要媒介。在本研究的观测区域内，蜂鸟与蜂类被认定为该物种最有效的传粉者。