Data from: The pollination system of the widely distributed mammal-pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) in the tropics

Although the pollinators of some plant species differ across regions, only
a few mammal-pollinated plant species have regional pollinator differences
in Asia. Mucuna macrocarpa is pollinated by squirrels, flying foxes, and
macaques in subtropical and temperate islands. In this study, the
pollination system of M. macrocarpa was identified in tropical Asia, where
the genus originally diversified. This species requires “explosive
opening” of the flower, where the wing petals must be pressed down and the
banner petal pushed upward to fully expose the stamens and pistil. A
bagging experiment showed that fruits did not develop in inflorescences (n
= 66) with unopened flowers, whereas fruits developed in 68.7% of
inflorescences (n = 131) with opened flowers. This indicated that the
explosive opening is needed for the species to reproduce. Four potential
pollinator mammals were identified by a video camera-trap survey, and more
than 60% of monitored inflorescences (n = 138) were opened by two diurnal
squirrels (Callosciurus caniceps and C. finlaysonii), even though more
than 10 mammal species visited flowers. Nectar was surrounded by the
calyx, and the volume and sugar concentration of nectar did not change
during the day. This nectar secretion pattern is similar to those reported
by previous studies in other regions. These results showed that the main
pollinators of M. macrocarpa in the tropics are squirrels. However, the
species’ nectar secretion pattern is not specifically adapted to this
particular pollinator. Pollinators of M. macrocarpa differ throughout the
distribution range based on the fauna present, but there might not have
been no distinctive changes in the attractive traits that accompanied
these changes in pollinators.