Abstract
Estimates of both within- and between-capitulum morph outcrossing in outdoor experimental plots of Senecio vulgaris L. show that non-radiate plants may outbreed at similar levels to radiate plants. Pure stands of both radiate and non-radiate plants were found to exhibit intra-morph outcrossing frequencies of about 17 per cent. In polymorphic plots however, pollinators appear to visit the radiate morph in preference to the non-radiate morph. This insect behaviour is shown to be related to the attractiveness of the ray florets. The implications of the results to the maintenance of the capitulum polymorphism in natural populations are discussed.
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Warren, J. Outcrossing frequencies within- and between-capitulum morphs in groundsel Senecio vulgaris L.. Heredity 61, 161–166 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1988.102
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1988.102
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