Plant-level fecundity and andromonoecy in three common (Melaleuca styphelioides, M. thymifolia, M. nodosa) and one rare (M. deanei) Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) species of the Sydney region
Alison Hewitt A B , Paul Holford A , Adrian Renshaw A , Anthony Haigh A and E. Charles Morris A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: a.hewitt@uws.edu.au
Australian Journal of Botany 62(4) 276-285 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT14081
Submitted: 23 April 2014 Accepted: 14 July 2014 Published: 20 August 2014
Abstract
This paper reports plant-level measures of reproductive performance from large and small field populations of the vulnerable species Melaleuca deanei F.Meull. compared with three common species within the genus: Melaleuca nodosa (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Sm., Melaleuca thymifolia Sm. and Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. Measures reported include average seed numbers per capsule and per plant; average fruit loads per plant; the proportion of buds that become flowers and thence fruits (fruit set); the number of ovules per flower and seed : ovule ratios (seed set); and floral morphologies. Results indicate that when M. deanei flowers, bud to flower ratios and flower to fruit ratios are not reduced compared with the congeners or between large and small populations. Seed loads per plant held by fruiting plants were comparable between the species and between large and small populations of M. deanei. Seed to ovule ratios were in the order of 5–9% in M. nodosa; 5–7% in M. styphelioides; 7–10% in M. deanei; and 12–15% in M. thymifolia. Larval herbivory of ovules was recorded in M. nodosa and pre-dispersal seed predation noted in M. thymifolia. Andromonoecy was recorded in two of the species at rates of 0.9–3.1% (M. deanei) and 2.9–7% (M. thymifolia). Results suggest that seed production within smaller populations of M. deanei is poor because of a low frequency of flowering and a low proportion of flowering plants per population, rather than plant-level pollination, fruit- or seed-set barriers. Further study is needed to determine the triggers to flowering, the breeding systems, the extent of clonality and the germination and establishment requirements in these species.
Additional keywords: fruit set, pistillode, seed numbers, seed : ovule ratios.
References
Abernethy B, Rutherfurd ID (2001) The distribution and strength of riparian tree roots in relation to riverbank reinforcement. Hydrological Processes 15, 63–79.| The distribution and strength of riparian tree roots in relation to riverbank reinforcement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Andersen A (1990) Andromonoecy in four Australian species of Leptospermum. Australian Journal of Botany 38, 511–515.
| Andromonoecy in four Australian species of Leptospermum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Auld TD, Denham AJ (2001) Predispersal seed predation in shrubs of Grevillea (Proteaceae) from south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 49, 17–21.
| Predispersal seed predation in shrubs of Grevillea (Proteaceae) from south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barlow BA, Forrester J (1984) Pollen tube interactions in Melaleuca. In ‘Pollination ‘84. Proceedings of a symposium held at the Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, University of Melbourne, Parkville’. (Eds EG Williams, RB Knox) pp. 154160. (University of Melbourne)
Barrett SC (2008) Major evolutionary transitions in flowering plant reproduction: an overview. International Journal of Plant Sciences 169, 1–5.
| Major evolutionary transitions in flowering plant reproduction: an overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baskorowati L, Moncur MW, Doran JC, Kanowski PJ (2010) Reproductive biology of Melaleuca alternifolia (Myrtaceae) 1. Floral biology. Australian Journal of Botany 58, 373–383.
| Reproductive biology of Melaleuca alternifolia (Myrtaceae) 1. Floral biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baumann A (2008) Regeneration of broad-leaved paperbark trees in the fringing forest of the Myall Lakes. PhD Thesis, University of Sydney.
Beardsell DV, O’Brien SP, Williams EG, Knox RB, Calder DM (1993) Reproductive biology of Australian Myrtaceae. Australian Journal of Botany 41, 511–526.
| Reproductive biology of Australian Myrtaceae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Benson D, McDougall L (1998) Ecology of Sydney plant species. Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae. Cunninghamia 5, 809–987.
Bentham G (1866) Melaleuca. In ‘Flora Australiensis 3’. pp. 123–163. (Reeve and Co.: London)
Bertin RI (1982) The evolution and maintenance of andromonoecy. Evolutionary Theory 6, 25–32.
Bevill RL, Louda SM (1999) Comparisons of related rare and common species in the study of plant rarity. Conservation Biology 13, 493–498.
| Comparisons of related rare and common species in the study of plant rarity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blake ST (1968) A revision of Melaleuca leucodendron and its allies (Myrtaceae). Contributions from the Queensland Herbarium 1, 1–114.
Brophy JJ, Craven LA, Doran JC (2013) ‘Melaleucas: their botany, essential oils and uses.’ (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra)
Burd M (1995) Ovule packaging in stochastic pollination and fertilization environments. Evolution 49, 100–109.
| Ovule packaging in stochastic pollination and fertilization environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Byrnes NB (1984) A revision of Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) in northern and eastern Australia, 1. Austrobaileya 1, 65–76.
Byrnes NB (1985) A revision of Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) in northern and eastern Australia, 2. Austrobaileya 2, 131–146.
Byrnes NB (1986) A revision of Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) in northern and eastern Australia, 3. Austrobaileya 2, 254–273.
Carr SGM, Carr DJ, Ross FL (1971) Male flowers in eucalypts. Australian Journal of Botany 19, 73–83.
| Male flowers in eucalypts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Casper BB, Wiens D (1981) Fixed rates of random ovule abortion in Cryptantha flava (Boraginaceae) and its possible relation to seed dispersal. Ecology 62, 866–869.
| Fixed rates of random ovule abortion in Cryptantha flava (Boraginaceae) and its possible relation to seed dispersal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cowling RM, Eggenberg S (2000) Accommodating problems of rarity definition and phylogeny in assessing common-rare differences in reproductive effort: opportunities provided by the Cape Flora. South African Journal of Science 96, 381–384.
Cuevas J, Polito VS (2004) The role of staminate flowers in the breeding system of Olea europea (Oleaceae): an andromonoecious, wind pollinated taxon. Annals of Botany 93, 547–553.
| The role of staminate flowers in the breeding system of Olea europea (Oleaceae): an andromonoecious, wind pollinated taxon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15037451PubMed |
Dai C, Galloway LF (2012) Male flowers are better fathers than hermaphroditic flowers in andromonoecious Passiflora incarnata. New Phytologist 193, 787–796.
| Male flowers are better fathers than hermaphroditic flowers in andromonoecious Passiflora incarnata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22122433PubMed |
Department of Environment Climate Change and Water (2010) ‘National Recovery Plan for Melaleuca deanei.’ (Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW: Sydney)
Ellis MF, Sedgley M (1992) Floral morphology and breeding system of three species of Eucalyptus, section Bisectaria (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 40, 249–262.
| Floral morphology and breeding system of three species of Eucalyptus, section Bisectaria (Myrtaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Felton S (1993) The distribution, abundance and seed ecology of the rare plant Melaleuca deanei. B.Sc.(Hons) Thesis, University of Wollongong, NSW.
Gibson N, Yates C, Byrne M, Langley M, Thavornkanlapachai R (2012) The importance of recruitment patterns versus reproductive output in the persistence of a short-range endemic shrub in a highly fragmented landscape of south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 60, 643–649.
| The importance of recruitment patterns versus reproductive output in the persistence of a short-range endemic shrub in a highly fragmented landscape of south-western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Greenway M (1994) Litter accession and accumulation in a Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake wetland in south-eastern Queensland. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 45, 1509–1519.
| Litter accession and accumulation in a Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake wetland in south-eastern Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlslCjsLk%3D&md5=5edddf6b0845565eecb480903531ace7CAS |
Hendrati RL, Baskorowati L, Kartikawati N (2002) Reproductive biology of Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cajuputi. In ‘Advances in genetic improvement of tropical tree species. Proceedings of a conference held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 1–3 Oct. 2002’. (Eds A Rimbawanto, M Susanto) pp. 139–143. (Centre for Forest Biotechnology and Tree Improvement: Sleman, Indonesia)
Hewitt A Holford P Renshaw A Haigh A Morris EC 2014
Kunin WE, Gaston KJ (1997) Rare-common differences: an overview. In ‘The biology of rarity: causes and consequences of common-rare differences’. pp. 12–29. (Chapman and Hall: London)
Morrison DA, Myerscough PJ (1989) Temporal regulation of maternal investment in populations of the perennial legume Acacia suaveolens. Ecology 70, 1629–1638.
| Temporal regulation of maternal investment in populations of the perennial legume Acacia suaveolens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murray BR, Thrall PH, Gill MA, Nicotra AB (2002) How plant life-history and ecological traits relate to species rarity and commonness at varying spatial scales. Austral Ecology 27, 291–310.
| How plant life-history and ecological traits relate to species rarity and commonness at varying spatial scales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nic Lughada E, Proenca C (1996) A survey of the reproductive biology of the Myrtoideae (Myrtaceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 83, 480–503.
| A survey of the reproductive biology of the Myrtoideae (Myrtaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Brien S (1994) Andromonoecy and fruit set in Leptospermum myrsinoides and L. continentale (Myrtaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 42, 751–762.
| Andromonoecy and fruit set in Leptospermum myrsinoides and L. continentale (Myrtaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Primack RB, Lloyd DG (1980) Andromonoecy in the New Zealand montane shrub Manuka, Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae). American Journal of Botany 67, 361–368.
| Andromonoecy in the New Zealand montane shrub Manuka, Leptospermum scoparium (Myrtaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rye BL (1980) Chromosome numbers, reproductive biology and evolution in the Myrtaceae. PhD Thesis, University of Western Australia, Perth.
Rymer PD, Whelan RJ, Ayre DJ, Weston PH, Russell KG (2005) Reproductive success and pollinator effectiveness differ in common and rare Persoonia species (Proteaceae). Biological Conservation 123, 521–532.
| Reproductive success and pollinator effectiveness differ in common and rare Persoonia species (Proteaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sedgely M, Smith RM (1989) Pistil receptivity and pollen tube growth in relation to the breeding system of Eucalyptus woodwardii (Symphyomyrtus: Myrtaceae). Annals of Botany 64, 21–23.
Silcock J, Page M (2007) Melaleuca densispicata in Currawinya National Park, South-West Queensland: ecology and preliminary implications for management of a rare plant species. Ecological Management & Restoration 8, 145–147.
| Melaleuca densispicata in Currawinya National Park, South-West Queensland: ecology and preliminary implications for management of a rare plant species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stephenson , AG (1981) Flower and fruit abortion: proximate causes and ultimate functions. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 12, 279
| Flower and fruit abortion: proximate causes and ultimate functions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sutherland S (1987) Why hermaphroditic plants produce many more flowers than fruits: experimental tests with Agave mckelveyana. Evolution 41, 750–759.
| Why hermaphroditic plants produce many more flowers than fruits: experimental tests with Agave mckelveyana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Torezan-Silingardi HM, de Oliveira PE (2002) Phenology and reproductive ecology of Myrcia rostrata and M. tomentosa (Myrtaceae) in central Brazil. Phyton 44, 23–43.
Virtue J (1991) Melaleuca deanei: ecological studies on a rare plant. B.Sc.(Hons) Thesis, University of Sydney.
Yates CJ, Elliott C, Byrne M, Coates D, Fairman R (2007) Seed production, germinability and seedling growth for a bird pollinated shrub in fragments of kwongan in south-west Australia. Biological Conservation 136, 306–314.
| Seed production, germinability and seedling growth for a bird pollinated shrub in fragments of kwongan in south-west Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yeoman F, Mac Nally R (2005) The avifaunas of some fragmented, periurban, coastal woodlands in south-eastern Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning 72, 297–312.
| The avifaunas of some fragmented, periurban, coastal woodlands in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zhang T, Tan D (2009) An examination of the function of male flowers in an andromonoecious shrub Capparis spinosa. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 51, 316–324.
| An examination of the function of male flowers in an andromonoecious shrub Capparis spinosa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19261075PubMed |
