LEVIN, RACHEL A.*, ROBERT A. RAGUSO, AND LUCINDA A. MCDADE. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721. - The relationship between floral fragrance, phylogeny, and hawkmoth-pollination in Nyctaginaceae.
It is known that floral scents attract pollinator service for plants,
and differences in floral fragrances are thought to be related to
pollinator type. We have examined the relationship between floral
fragrance and hawkmoth-pollination within a phylogenetic context. The
genera Selinocarpus, Acleisanthes, and Mirabilis
(Nyctaginaceae) are predominantly hawkmoth-pollinated. Through
headspace floral scent collections and GC-MS analysis we found that
these species have complex floral fragrance profiles. Interestingly,
the fragrance composition appears strongly associated with
phylogenetic relationship. This suggests that hawkmoths are attracted
to a variety of floral volatiles, and as a result may constrain the
evolution of floral fragrance less than has been previously thought.
Key words: floral scent, hawkmoth-pollination, Nyctaginaceae, phylogeny