Pollination and breeding systems in fringe lilies and Arnocrinum – distinctive local wildflowers

Fringe lilies (Thysanotus spp.) are attractive spring and summer wildflowers throughout the SW of Western Australia. They are members of the Asparagaceae family and although occurring across most of temperate Australia are most speciose in WA. Like a number of other genera in the family they produce no nectar and are pollinated by native bees that can “buzz” the anthers to harvest pollen needed to feed the bee larvae.

Over almost 20 years Philip Ladd from Murdoch University has studied six species of Thysanotus and one of Arnocrinum (Hemerocallidaceae) that grow in reserves south of the river in suburban Perth. The breeding systems vary from autogamous, selfing but needing a pollinator, through mixed mating to outcrossing. There seems to be a progression from selfing in late winter flowering species to outcrossing for those that flower in the later spring and into summer. This may be related to early flowering species lacking pollinator attention due to low temperatures in winter while in spring temperatures are higher and pollinators abundant but there is also a lot of other species flowering so competition for pollinators is high. Towards summer most species have finished flowering but the late flowering Thysanotus species are now almost the only species in flower so pollinators have little option but to visit them and thus the flowers can have plenty of outcross pollen.

These are some of the complexities Philip has helped to unravel, but there are more and on Tuesday evening, 12 September at the Palms Community Centre, Subiaco, Philip will guide us through some of them.

Doors open at 7.45 pm for an 8 pm start with a $3 donation giving you entry into the night’s door prize. All are welcome.