Ornithophily in the trumpet creeper: floral metric data from the Ozark Mountains

The diversification of hummingbirds (Trochilidae) has shaped the pollination strategies and floral trait evolution in at least 68 families of flowering plants in the Western Hemisphere. The trumpet creeper (Bignoniaceae) is the quintessential example of ornithophily in eastern North America. The mutualistic relationship between this flamboyantly-flowered liana and the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) was illustrated as early as 1731. However, neither historical nor modern accounts accurately describe the feeding behavior of ruby-throats at trumpet creeper flowers or the floral adaptations for ornithophily. This paper explores their surprisingly immersive mode of foraging at trumpet creeper flowers and quantitatively assesses floral traits in two populations in the Ozark Mountains. The ruby-throat's bill is approximately one-third the length of the trumpet-shaped flowers, which counters the tendency for the corolla length of ornithophilous plants to match the bill length ..., Overview of trumpet creeper floral traits
The sympetalous, zygomorphic flowers (60-90 mm in length) are arranged in terminal inflorescences composed of 12–35 flowers organized in 3-flowered dichasial cymes. The campanulate corolla widens from a narrow elongated cylindrical base. The floral tube terminates in five rounded petal lobes that unfold at anthesis. The ventral petal lobe functions as a landing platform for hummingbirds and bees. The pentagonal corolla opening is vertically compressed, wider horizontally than it is tall. The base of the corolla, which encloses the basal nectary and superior ovary, is protected by a leathery cup-shaped calyx. Most corollas curve subtly downward above the calyx. The corollary stricture marks the point where the trumpet-shaped corolla narrows abruptly, forming a narrow basal tube. The four staminal filaments and a short curled staminode emerge from the interior wall at the corollary stricture and curve along the inner walls toward the opening. The ..., , # Ornithophily in the trumpet creeper: floral metric data from the Ozark Mountains

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k6djh9wgp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k6djh9wgp)

## Description of the data and file structure

#### File: Ornithophily\_in\_the\_trumpet\_creeper--floral\_metrics\_(8-27-2024).pdf

**Description:** The spreadsheet includes field number, date, location, corolla length, corolla width at the mouth, stricture-nectary distance, proximal anther-nectary distance, distal anther-nectary distance, and stigma-nectary distance of trumpet creeper flowers (*Campsis radicans*) from two populations in the Ozark Mountains, Baxter County, Arkansas. All measurements are in millimeters.  Missing data points are indicated by blank cells. Â