Pollination Syndromes - Rodent

Non-flying Rodent Pollination (therophily)

There are a couple of different groups of adaptations to pollination by non-flying rodents. The first group consists of low growing plants visited by ground-dwelling rodents and are characterized by flowers packed tightly into geoflorous and cryptic inflorescences, nocturnal anthesis and production of copious amounts of sugar-rich nectar and pollen as well as a musky odour. In the case of Massonia depressa, the nectar is particularly viscous and gelatinous which may be a means to discourage robbing by insects and facilitate lapping by rodents.

A second group of rodent pollinators (excluding bats) includes a number of marsupials (incl. honey possums, sugar gliders) that visit Australian Proteaceae. These animals are more adapted to climbing around on the plants. A number of Banksia species feature this adaptation although our current accession, Banksia serrata, is wind pollinated and not known to be rodent pollinated.

Collection Accessions:

• Massonia depressa - Kamieskroon - Hyacinthaceae
• WISHLIST ITEM: Androcymbium latifolium - (syn. Androcymbium pulchrum) - Colchicaceae