Dear friends, I have some results I need to compare with evidence in the literature. Specifically, I have a species with actinomorphic flowers, slightly zigomorphic, whose nectaries are more productive if they are situated on the upper side of the flower. In other words, some parts of the flower produce a significantly higher amount of nectar.
I am looking for evidence in the literature similar cases, thanks in advance.
I suggest check one of the last comprehensive reviews about nectaries, the book "Nectaries and Nectar" (Nicolson, Nepi, Pacini), and in the Heil's paper "Nectar: generation, regulation and ecological functions" (Trends in Plant Sciences).
I saw a Rhododendron looks has five nectaries, but only one works tow others might work but not very effective. Whereas Some Rhododendron's 5 nectaries work simultaneously. Hope I can find the photo.
I study the orchids and I see the nectariferous Anther cap in Aerides odorata , and we not see any nectars and only one anther in zigomorphe flower.
In the chemical attraction of orchid flowers the more important place presents Anther cap"s stomata and non the pollens:
TELEPOVA-TEXIER M. 2011. Interaction entre les orchidées et leurs pollinisateurs. Bulletin trimestrielle Les Amis du Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 248: 61-66.
Dear Alejandro
Please note that this might be an effect of flower age.
Not all of the flowers of an inflorescence are of the same Age. Since nectar production is known to be dependent of Age this might explain your Observation.
But you might be interested in papers like
"Variation in rate of nectar production depends on floral display size: a pollinator manipulation hypothesis"
at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2004.00815.x/abstract
Regards
Nikola
Many Angiosperms which are pollinated by animals/insects are known to vary widely in the nector content. Here is the reference
HAITALI ANAND, CHAITRALI UMRANIKAR, POOJA SHINTRE, ANUJA DAMLE,JANHAVI KALE, JAHNAVI JOSHI AND MILIND WATVE: Presence of two types of fl owers with respect to nectar sugar in two gregariously flowering species
http://www.ias.ac.in/jbiosci/jun2007/769.pdf
Check this old paper
Inter- and intra-floral heterogeneity of nectar production in Helleborus foetidus L. (Ranunculaceae)
BY CARLOS M. HERRERA and RAMÓN C. SORIGUER
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1983.tb00972.x/abstract
A single flower of Paeonia brownii contains multiple, cup shaped nectaries. Each green, nectar gland may contain no nectar or a disproportionate number of micro liters of fluid compared to adjacent glands. Please see the following.
http://www.pollinationecology.org/index.php?journal=jpe&page=issue&op=current
Past work also shows that 3-5 flowers on the same inflorescence of an Amyema sp. (Loranthaceae) produce different nectar volumes on the same day, although all flower buds opened at the same time.
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