Pollination ofHibbertia hypericoides(Dilleniaceae) and its evolutionary significance

Abstract

The primary mode of pollination in the species of Hibbertia studies is cantharophily, and this is reflected in the primary means of vector attraction; pollen (other ancient attractions present in the genus are pollen odour, and perhaps food bearing staminodia (Van der Pijl, 1961)). Pollen collecting bees may now form a secondary vector group. Finding that another ancient Angiosperm group is primarily pollinated by beetles, lends further support to the idea that such insects were the primary pollinators of the proto and early Angiosperms.