| Abstract Detail
Ecology Fink, Cassandra [1], Krosnick, Shawn [1]. Examination of the Reproductive Biology in Lilium formosanum Wallace (Liliaceae): Animal Visitation, Floral Phenology, and Floral Rewards in Monterey, Tennessee. Lilium L. section Leucolirion Wilson, known as the trumpet lilies, consists of nine species native to countries in Central and Southeastern Asia. Four species in this section occur in the southeastern United States: Lilium formosanum, L. longiflorum, L. philippinense, and L. regale. These species have been cultivated at botanical gardens, universities, and by home gardeners since at least 1865. Species in section Leucolirion have become established around the world and have been described as invasive in several locations. Hybrids have also been shown to form readily among species in this section. Lilium formosanum (Formosa lily), appears to be the most widespread taxon in this section. Native to Taiwan, this species has attractive white flowers that release a strong perfume at night. Plants can reach 2 m tall, appear to be self-compatible, produce hundreds of seeds per fruit, and flower in their first year from seed. In the United States, this species appears to be rapidly naturalizing across the Southeast. Recently, L. formosanum was documented on the Cumberland Plateau in Putnam County, Tennessee. In its native range, L. formosanum is pollinated by a variety of Sphingidae moth species. In the U.S., little is known about the reproductive biology of this species or its potential to become invasive. Thus, we conducted a preliminary study to document insect visitation, floral rewards, and floral phenology at the Tennessee population. Plants were observed for 5 h beginning at 19:30 UTC for seven consecutive nights from 20 – 27 August 2021. Motion activated infrared cameras were used to supplement direct observations. In total, 13 plants with an average of three flowers per plant were observed. During this time period, six visitation events were documented. Of these, five were Manduca sexta (Tobacco hornworm) and one was Conocephalus sp. (bush-cricket). Manduca sexta accessed nectar with its long proboscis while making contact with the stigma and anthers with its abdomen. A bush-cricket from the genus Conocephalus was observed walking all over the anthers and stigma while eating pollen. These observations suggest that M. sexta and Conocephalus sp. have the potential to be effective pollinators. Additional pollinator observations will be completed for L. formosanum across its range between June and July 2022. These data will be used to better understand the ecological role this species may play in the Southeast.
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2 - Tennessee Tech University, 1100 East Dixie Avenue, Pennebaker Hall #207, Cookeville, Tennessee, 38505, United States
Keywords:
Lilium
Pollinators
reproductive biology.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Number: EC11002
Abstract ID:853
Candidate for Awards:None |
