New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts
The breeding system of Raukaua anomalus, a small-leaved
shrub from New Zealand
M. F. Merrett
Landcare Research
Private Bag 3127
Hamilton, New Zealand
Abstract The breeding system of Raukaua
anomalus was thought to be dioecious or monoecious. Evidence from
nine geographically separated populations in the Waikato, the central
North Island, and the Wairarapa regions shows this species to be
hermaphroditic. The flowers are tiny, protandrous, and occur in
clusters on short peduncles at the leaf axils. Flowering occurs
sequentially, and each cluster may comprise buds, flowers, and fruit at
the same time. R. anomalus is self-compatible, but
within-flower dichogamy largely prevents autonomous selfing. The
smallness of the flowers and the complete abscission of the anthers,
filaments, and petals after the male phase are probably the reasons for
the previous uncertainty about its breeding system.
Keywords Araliaceae; Raukaua anomalus; breeding
system; hermaphrodite; dioecy; monoecy; protandry
B04034; Received 23 August 2004; accepted 15 November 2004; Online
publication date 17 March 2005
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2005, Vol. 43: 205–210
0028–825X/05/4301–0210 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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