Stylar movement avoids self-pollination and promotes cross-pollination in Eremurus himalaicus

摘要

The advantages of selfing notwithstanding, only 20-25% plant taxa are predominantly selfed. Majority practice out-crossing with the help of various contrivances they have evolved during the evolutionary history. Avoidance of self pollen by the stigmais a known strategy which gets expressed as dichogamy, her-kogamy, etc, Stylar movement as means to avoid self-pollination is little known. The authors observed this mechanism in Eremurus himalaicus Baker (Liliaceae) a bulbous angiosperm of family Liliaceae, whose foliage and young scapes are used as vegetable in the hills. This threatened temperate plant is distributed in dry, cold regions of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In India, the species grows from Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 3700 m. On account of its excessive exploitation for edible foliage, the species is living under stress and has therefore been listed in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants as a 'rare' species.