Reproductive challenges of early blooming for gynodioecious Daphne laureola
Early blooming in seasonal environments requires an extended flowering time, unspecialized pollination, or both, for successful reproduction. Conchita Alonso (pp. 61-66) shows that extended flowering contributes significantly to maintenance of gynodioecy in Daphne laureola. However, the only effective pollinator is a beetle that prefers sunny locations. This emphasizes the relevance of abiotic conditions for reproductive success of this early blooming shrub.
