Pollination in an understorey vine,Smilax rotundifolia, a threatened plant of the Carolinian forests in Canada

摘要

Round-leaved greenbrier,Smilax rotundifoliaL. (Liliaceae), is an insect-pollinated, dioecious, understorey vine. Its pollen is linked by viscin threads, effectively preventing wind dispersal. In most sites populations are not sexually reproductive, being unisexual, but do not spread vegetatively. Where both sexes occur, fruits and seeds are produced naturally. Artificial cross-pollinations can enhance the level of fruit and seed set. Understanding the biology of this threatened species is important for habitat management and conservation.Key words: dioecy, greenbrier, viscin, floral form, conservation, pollination.