Pollination, self-incompatibility, and fruit production inCorokia cotoneaster(Escalloniaceae)

Abstract

Corokia cotoneaster (Escalloniaceae) is an evergreen, divaricating shrub endemic to New Zealand. Although it has small, simple, open flowers and is neither dichogamous nor markedly herko-gamous, the pollination system exhibits some specialised features. C. cotoneaster is visited by a wide range of insects, but a single species of native bee appears to be the effective pollinator. In addition, C. cotoneaster is self-incompatible, an unusual condition in the New Zealand flora. It is suggested that the divaricating habit may impose particular constraints on the reproductive biology of this and other species.