Effects of pollen and nitrogen availability on reproduction in a woodland herb, Lysimachia quadrifolia

Abstract

Relationships between pollen loads, resource availability, and fruit and seed production were determined for Lysimachia quadrifolia ramets in two adjacent sites (the scrub site and the open site) in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Pollen loads limited % fruit set and seed production in the open site in 1982 and 1983. Reproduction in the scrub site was resource limited in 1982, as shown by an increase in % fruit set when one-half of the flowers on a ramet were removed prior to fruit initiation. In the scrub site in 1983, pollination of one-half of the flowers on a ramet decreased the % fruit set of the remaining, unpollinated flowers. Fruit production in the same site was limited by pollen in 1984. Addition of nitrogen fertilizer to the scrub site in 1984 had no effect on fruit and seed production. There was more variation in fruit set between sites than between years. There was no trend to greater fruit set or number of seeds/fruit on early flowers compared to late flowers on the same ramet. Correlations between measures of reproduction were positive or insignificant. These results demonstrate year-and site-specific variation in the factors that limit plant reproduction.