Résumé : Planta anual erecta de hasta 2 m de altura. Hojas de 3 folíolos membranáceos, oval a ovados de 6 a 12 cm de longitud. Flores de 10 a 20, color rosa en pedúnculos. Legumbre (fruto) linear, ligeramente curva de hasta 30 cm, con 3 costillas longitudinales en cada valva. Semillas elipsoidales, de unos 2 cm, blancas con una marca parda.
Plante annuelle arbustive, dressée, pouvant atteindre 2 m de haut. Feuilles à 3 folioles membraneuses, de forme ovale à ovée pouvant avoir de 6 à 12 cm de longueur. Fleurs au nombre de 10 à 20, de couleur rose, sur pédoncules. Fruit linéaire, légèrement incurvé pouvant atteindre 30 cm, avec 3 côtes longitudinales sur chaque valve. Graines ellipsoïdales, de 2 cm approximativement, blanches avec une petite tache brune.
Annual erect plant, up to 2 m in height.  Leaf with three membranous leaflets, oval to ovate, 6 to 12 cm in length.  Flowers, 10 to 20 in number, pink, in peduncles.  Pod (fruit) linear, slightly curved, up to 30 cm in length, with three longitudinal ribs in each valve.  Ellipsoid seeds, approx. 2 cm in length, white with a brown mark. Plant a climber or a bushy shrub, up to 2 m high. Leaf compound with three leaflets, oval to ovate, 6 to 12 cm long.  Inflorescence a raceme, flowers pink-purple; pod (fruit) linear, slightly curved, ca. 30 cm x 2.5-3.5cm, with three longitudinal ribs in each valve; seeds ca. 2 cm x 1.5 cm x 1 mm, white or ivory with a brown mark.
América tropical. Cultivada en regiones templadas y tropicales.
Amérique tropicale. Cultivée dans les régions tempérées et tropicales.
Tropical America.  Cultivated in regions with tropical and moderate climates.  

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant92

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé :  
Pollination ecology and reproductive success of Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) were studied in two natural populations in Québec, Canada. Individual A. triphyllum plants can be of three types: male, female or bisexual. In both populations studied, the presence of bisexual inflorescences was not negligible (13%), where 'female' and 'male' bisexual plants were categorised according to the relative number of stamens and ovaries. 'Male bisexual' plants produce only pollen and 'female bisexual' plants produce only fruit. Hence, A. triphyllum is a true dioecious plant, as each plant only reproduces through either the male or the female function. 'Female bisexual' plants were equivalent to female plants in terms of visitation rate by insects, fructification rate and production of berries and seeds. Neither agamospermy in female plants nor self-pollination in 'female bisexual' plants was found, thus A. triphyllum relies on insects for cross-pollination. Despite the long flowering cycle, a low visitation rate was documented: only 20-40% of inflorescences were visited, according to gender, by a mean of 1.5 insects. In this study, Mycetophilidae represented the most generically diversified and abundant family, as well as the most efficient insect pollinator, especially the genera Docosia and Mycetophila.
ISSN: 1435-8603

hal-01032127
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032127
DOI : 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2009.00192.x

Éditeur(s) : Art Asia America, a Digital Archive of Asian/Asian American Contemporary Art History Art Asia America, a Digital Archive of Asian/Asian American Contemporary Art History
Résumé : Record item with link to the full digital resource added to support use of this text in the Panama Silver, Asian Gold course to be taught at three institutions starting in Fall 2013.

Droits : See the holding digital archive for information on rights: http://artasiamerica.org/works/454/51
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00015987/00001

Résumé : Planta de 6 a 10 m, estolonífera. Hojas pecioladas, de hasta 2 m, arregladas en espiral, simples, enteras, ampliamente elípticas, penninervadas. Inflorescencias espiciformes que crecen desde el cormo a través del pseudo tallo, recurvo-colgantes; flores blanco-amarillentas, en cimas a lo largo del eje principal, cubiertas por brácteas grandes. Fruto cilíndrico de hasta 30 cm, amarillo o verdoso al madurar.
Plante de 6 à 10 m, stolonifère. Feuilles pétiolées, pouvant atteindre 2 m, disposées en spirale, simples, entières, largement elliptiques, penniformes. Inflorescences spiciformes sortant du pseudo-tronc, recourbées et pendantes; fleurs blanc-jaunâtres, disposées en cymes le long de l’axe principal, couvertes de grandes bractées, les supérieures femelles. Fruit cylindrique pouvant avoir 30 cm de long, jaune ou verdâtre au cours de la période de maturation.
Large perennial herb 2-9 m high with basal corm. Pseudostem composed of leaf sheaths forming the ‘trunk’ of the plant. Leaves blades oblong, entire 1.5-4 m x 0.7-1 m, petiole 30-90 cm long, rounded beneath, channeled above; inflorescences terminal, growing from the pseudostem, erect or drooping; flowers in flat clusters in the axils of spirally arranged broad, dark purple-coloured bracts, functionally unisexual, the lower female the upper male; mature fruit fleshy, cylindrical, 6-35 cm x 2.5-5 cm with greenish, yellow or reddish skin.
Nativa de los trópicos del Viejo Mundo, cultivada en las regiones tropicales de todo el mundo.
Originaire des tropiques de l’;Ancien Monde, cultivée dans les régions tropicales du monde entier.
Native to the tropics of the Old World, cultivated

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant238

Résumé : Planta trepadora, glabra con zarcillos; ramas articuladas. Hojas alternas, simples, oblongas a aovadas, de hasta 15 cm, densamente pilosas a glabras, con el margen ligeramente dentado. Cimas pedunculadas, amarillas, muy ramificadas; flores pequeñas, verdes o amarillo-verdosas. Baya ovoide o globosa, purpúrea a negra, de 8 a 10 mm, con una sola semilla.
Plante grimpante, glabre avec vrilles; branches articulées. Feuilles alternes, simples, oblongues à ovées, pouvant atteindre 15 cm, fortement pileuses à glabres, au bord légèrement denté. Cimes pédonculées, jaunes, très ramifiées; fleurs petites, vertes ou jaune-verdâtre. Baie ovoïde ou arrondie, pourpre à noire, de 8 à 10 mm, avec une seule graine.
Climbing plant up to 20 m or more, glabrous with tendril; stem cylindrical often with hanging roots, branches articulate.  Leaves alternate, simple, oblong to ovate, 5-15 cm x 7.5 cm, hairy to smooth, with slightly dentate edge. Inflorescence a cyme two-three times branched; flowers light yellow; fruits a berry, purple-black, 8-10 mm long, with a single seed.
Regiones tropicales del continente americano.
Régions tropicales du continent américain.
Tropical regions of the American continent.

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant126

Résumé : Additional label information: leaves, flower, and young fruit. Summit, Canal Zone. USDA - Foreign Agric'l Relations Photo
North America -- Panama -- Caribbean
Caribbean
Caribbean
Panama

C. Z. 25

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Chelonanthus alatus is a bat-pollinated, pioneer Gentianaceae that clusters in patches where still-standing, dried-out stems are interspersed among live individuals. Flowers bear circum-floral nectaries (CFNs) that are attractive to ants, and seed dispersal is both barochorous and anemochorous. Although, in this study, live individuals never sheltered ant colonies, dried-out hollow stems--that can remain standing for 2 years--did. Workers from species nesting in dried-out stems as well as from ground-nesting species exploited the CFNs of live C. alatus individuals in the same patches during the daytime, but were absent at night (when bat pollination occurs) on 60.5% of the plants. By visiting the CFNs, the ants indirectly protect the flowers--but not the plant foliage--from herbivorous insects. We show that this protection is provided mostly by species nesting in dried-out stems, predominantly Pseudomyrmex gracilis. That dried-out stems remain standing for years and are regularly replaced results in an opportunistic, but stable association where colonies are sheltered by one generation of dead C. alatus while the live individuals nearby, belonging to the next generation, provide them with nectar; in turn, the ants protect their flowers from herbivores. We suggest that the investment in wood by C. alatus individuals permitting still-standing, dried-out stems to shelter ant colonies constitutes an extended phenotype because foraging workers protect the flowers of live individuals in the same patch. Also, through this process these dried-out stems indirectly favor the reproduction (and so the fitness) of the next generation including both their own offspring and that of their siblings, all adding up to a potential case of inclusive fitness in plants.
ISSN: 1932-6203

hal-00825845
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00825845
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00825845/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00825845/file/Dejean2011_Inherited.pdf
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0018071

Résumé : Additional label information: flowering. Summit, Canal Zone. USDA - Foreign Agric'l Relations Photo
North America -- Panama -- Caribbean
Caribbean
Caribbean area
Panama

C. Z. 15

Résumé : Planta trepadora glabra, con tubérculos de forma irregular que se desarrollan en la axila de las hojas. Hojas alternas, ovadas a suborbiculares, de 7 a 19 cm, largo-acuminadas, acorazonadas en la base. Flores estaminadas solitarias, en espigas de hasta 10 cm, en ocasiones paniculadas; flores pistiladas fasciculadas, en espigas simples de hasta 25 cm. Cápsula oblonga, de 2.2 a 2.5 cm.
Plante grimpante glabre, avec des tubercules de forme irrégulière qui se développent dans l’axe des feuilles. Feuilles alternes, ovées à semi-arrondies, de 7 à 19 cm, longues-acuminées, en forme de cœur à la base. Fleurs à étamines solitaires, en épis pouvant atteindre 10 cm, parfois paniculées; fleurs avec pistil fasciculées, en épis simples pouvant atteindre 25 cm. Capsule oblongue, de 2,2 à 2,5 cm.
Herbaceous, dioecious, climber with glabrous stem, bearing in leaf axils, large, brown, tuberculate bulbils ca 15 cm in diameter; leaves alternate, simple, cordate at base, petioles 6-14 cm long, blades broadly ovate 15-25 cm x 7-20 cm; male flowers borne on clustered spikes up to 20 cm long; female flowers borne on simple spikes 10-15 cm long; fruit a capsule oblong 2.5 cm x1.5 cm.
Originaria de Asia tropical, cultivada en regiones tropicales.
Originaire d’Asie tropicale, cultivée dans les régions tropicales.
Native to tropical Asia, cultivated in tropical regions.

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant159

Résumé : Planta herbácea erguida de hasta 1.7 m de alto, glabra y glauca. Hojas alternas, oblongas a obovadas de hasta 35 cm, tripinnadas con los últimos segmentos filiformes; vainas peciolares de 1-3 cm de longitud. Inflorescencias con umbelas terminales y laterales; flores numerosas de pétalos amarillos. Fruto ovado-elíptico, glabro, de hasta 4 mm de longitud, compreso dorsalmente, costillas estrechamente aladas, las 2 laterales más amplias. Con frecuencia esta especie es confundida con Foeniculum vulgare, el cual tiene una vaina peciolar más larga y todas las costillas del fruto son iguales.
Plante herbacée, à tige dressée, pouvant atteindre 1,7 m de haut. Feuilles oblongues à ovées, tripennées de 20-40 sur 10-20 cm, les derniers segments sont filiformes. Ombelles de 15 cm de diamètre, nombreuses fleurs, pétales jaunes. Fruit ovalo-elliptique de 4 mm sur 2 mm. Cette espèce est fréquemment confondue avec Foeniculum vulgare, laquelle a une gousse pétiolaire plus large et toutes les côtes de fruit égales.
Erect herb, up to 1.7 m high, glabrous and glaucous.  Leaves alternate, oblong to obovate, up to 35 cm long, tri-pinnate, with filiform final segments; petiolar sheaths, 1-3 cm long; inflorescences with terminal and lateral umbels; numerous flowers bearing yellow petals; fruit ovate-elliptic and glabrous, up to 4 mm long, dorsally compressed, with tightly winged ribs, the two side ribs being broader. This species is frequently confused with Foeniculum vulgare, in spite of the fact that the latter has a longer petiolar sheath and all of its fruit ribs are all the same size.
Originaria del Mediterráneo, cultivada ampliamente en el nuevo mundo.
Originaire du bassin méditerranéen, amplement cultivée en Amérique.
Native to the Mediterranean, widely cultivated in the New World. 

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant105

Résumé : Planta acaulescente o con tallo corto, estolonífera. Hojas lanceoladas, de 30 a 60 cm, largo-acuminadas, espinoso-dentadas. Inflorescencia en escapo de hasta 1.2 m con brácteas lanceoladas o aovadas, agudas; flores amarillas de 2.5 cm de longitud en racimos densos de 10 a 30 cm. Cápsulas (fruto) dehiscentes, con semillas negras.
Plante sans tige apparente ou à tige courte, stolonifère. Feuilles lancéolées, longues de 30 à 60 cm, terminées en pointe fine, épino-dentées. Stipe pouvant atteindre 1,2 m, grappes denses de 10 à 30 cm, bractées lancéolées ou ovées, en pointe.Fleurs jaunes de 2,5 cm de longueur en grappes denses de 10 à 30 cm. Fruit: capsule déhiscente; graines noires ailées.
Acaulescent or short-stemmed stoloniferous plant.  Leaves lanceolate, 30-60 cm in length,  long-acuminate, spiny-serrate.  Inflorescence on scape of up to 1.2 m long, with sharp lanceolate or ovate bracts; yellow flowers, 2.5 cm long, in dense 10-30 cm long racemes.  Dehiscent capsules (fruit), with black seeds.
Oriunda del Mediterráneo, ampliamente cultivada en los trópicos y subtrópicos
Originaire du bassin méditerranéen, largement cultivée en milieu tropical et subtropical.
Native to the Mediterranean, widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant14

Résumé : Planta anual o perenne de 50 cm de alto, con ramas a veces reclinadas. Hojas alargadas, aovadas o punteadas de 3 a 7 cm de longitud. Flores en espigas de 1.5 a 3 cm de longitud que emergen desde las axilas de las hojas. Cápsulas pilosas de 2 mm.
Plante vivant un ou deux ans, de 50 cm de hauteur, avec des tiges à poils incurvés. Feuilles allongées, ovales ou pointues de 3 à 7 cm de longueur, à marges crénelées. Fleurs en épi mâles et femelles axillaires de 1,5 à 3 cm de longueur attachées à l';axe des feuilles. Fruit: capsule de 2 mm, velue.
Annual or perennial plant, up to 50 cm in height, with branches sometimes angling down.  Leaves elongated, ovate, or glandular-punctate, 3 to 7 cm in long.  Flowers, in spikes, 1.5 to 3 cm long, emerging from axillary leaf shoots; capsule 2 mm, pilose.
Sur de México hasta Perú y Bolivia. Presente también en las Pequeñas Antillas.  
Du Sud du Mexique jusqu';au Pérou et en Bolivie. Existe aussi dans les Petites Antilles.
From southern Mexico to Peru and Bolivia.  Also found in the L

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant250

Résumé : Additional label information: fruit, flower, and leaves. Summit, Canal Zone. USDA - Foreign Agric'l Relations Photo
North America -- Panama -- Caribbean
Caribbean
Caribbean area
Panama

C. Z. 38

Résumé : Hierba o subfrútice de 1 a 3 m, con raíces tuberosas grandes. Hojas alternas, glabras, palmadas de 3 a 7 lóbulos, lineares a elípticos u oblanceolados, acuminados, glaucos en el envés. Inflorescencias en panículas terminales; flores con cáliz campanulado, 5 lobado. Cápsula dehiscente de 1.5 cm, subglobosa, rugosa, ligeramente alada.
Herbe ou plante subfrutescente de 1 à 3 m, à grandes racines tubéreuses. Feuilles alternes, glabres, palmées de 3 à 7 lobes linéaires à elliptiques ou oblancéolés, acuminés, à surface inférieure glauque. Inflorescences en panicules terminales; fleurs à pétales en racèmes composés; fleurs mâles et femelles distinctes. Capsule déhiscente de 1,5 cm, subarrondie, rugueuse, légèrement ailée.
Herb or semiwoody monecousshrub, 1-3 m high, with large, tuberous roots.  Leaves alternate, spirally arranged, palmately 3-9 lobed, obovate-lanceolate, 4-20 cm x 1-6 cm, glabrous above and glaucous below, petiole 5-30 cm; inflorescence terminal cymose panicles; female flowers on pedicels 7-12 mm long, calyx lobe 7.5 – 10 mm long, male flowers on pedicels 4-6 mm long, calyx lobes 2-5 mm long, female flowers lower than the male flowers; fruit a dehiscent, globose capsule, 1.5 cm in long; seeds gray mottled,ellipsoid, ca.12 mm long.
Originaria de Brasil, es extensamente cultivada en los trópicos.
Originaire du Brésil, très largement cultivée sous les tropiques.
Native to Brazil, widely cultivated in tropical regions.

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant221

Résumé : Herbácea anual de hasta 60 cm de altura, cubierta con numerosas espinas; látex amarillo. Hojas sésiles, alternas, sinuado-pinnatífidas de 8-20 cm, lóbulos cortos y anchos, márgenes espinosos. Flores hermafroditas, solitarias terminales; cáliz de 3 sépalos espinosos; corola con 6 pétalos, amarillos o blancos, de 2-3 cm. Cápsula con 4-6 valvas de 4-5 cm, espinosa.
Herbacée annuelle pouvant atteindre 60 cm de hauteur, recouverte de nombreuses épines; latex jaune. Feuilles sessiles, alternées, roncinées-pinnatifides de 8-20 cm, lobes courts et larges, à marges épineuses. Fleurs hermaphrodites, solitaires terminales; calice de 3 sépales épineux; corolle avec 6 pétales, jaunes ou blancs, de 2-3 cm. Capsule avec 4-6 valves de 4-5 cm, épineuse.
Annual herb, up to 60 cm high, covered with numerous thorns; yellow latex.  Leaves sessile, alternate, sinuate-pinnatifid, 8-20 cm long, with short and broad lobules and spiny margins; hermaphroditic flowers, solitary terminals; calyx with three thorny sepals; corolla with six yellow or white petals, 2-3 cm long; thorny capsule with 4-6 valves, 4-5 cm long.
Originaria de América tropical, naturalizada en el viejo mundo.
Plante originaire de l';Amérique tropicale, naturalisée dans l';Ancien Monde.
Native to tropical America, introduced to the Old World.

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant27

Résumé : Trepadora herbácea con tallo de 5 a 6 m acostillado. Hojas biternadas, folíolos aovados o lanceolados, agudos o acuminados, dentados o lobulados. Inflorescencia umbeliforme con largos pedúnculos y flores blancas de 4 a 5 mm. Cápsula subglobosa de 3 a 4 cm; semillas negras de 4 a 5 mm.
Plante grimpante herbacée, tige 5 à 6 m, à côtes. Feuilles à 6 folioles groupées par trois ovalées ou lancéolées, aiguës ou acuminées, dentées ou lobulées. Inflorescence ombelliforme avec longs pédoncules et fleurs blanchesde 4 à 5 mm. Capsule presque arrondie de 3 à 4 cm; graines noires de 4 à 5 mm.
Climbing shrub 3 (-6 m) high.  Leaves alternate up to 12 cm long, compound, blade pellucid-dotted, leaflets 5 cm x 2.5 cm, ovate-elliptical, acute-tipped; inflorescence corymbose; flowers white, 4-petals, 4-6 mm long; fruit sub-globose, 3-angled much inflated capsule, 2.5-3 cm in length and width; seeds black, 4-5 mm long with white aril.
Ampliamente distribuida en trópicos y subtrópicos del nuevo y viejo mundo.
Largement distribuée dans les régions tropicales et subtropicales du Nouveau et de l’Ancien Monde.
Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of t

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant31

Résumé : Sufrútice erecto, con ramas ascendentes, tallos puberulentos con tricomas estrellados y diminutos. Hojas alternas, variando de rómbico-oblongas a ovado cuneadas u oblanceoladas, obtusas a redondeadas o subagudas en el ápice, cuneadas o redondeadas en la base. Pedicelos solitarios en las axilas y más o menos dispersos a lo largo del tallo; corola amarilla o amarilla-anaranjada. Frutos glabros, carpelos múticos o con 1 o 2 espinas; semillas de color café, glabras, excepto en el hilo.
Plante suffrutescente dressée, à branches ascendantes, tiges pubérulentes avec pubescencesen étoiles de très petite dimension. Feuilles alternes, rhomboïdale-oblongues à ovée- cunéiformes ou oblancéolées, obtuses à arrondies ou subaiguës à la pointe, cunéiformes ou arrondies à la base. Pédicelles axillaires solitaires et plus ou moins dispersés le long de la tige; corolle jaune ou jaune-orangée. Fruits glabres, carpelles mutiques ou avec 1 ou 2 épines; graines de couleur café, glabres, sauf sur le hile.
Erect bushy herb, 30-90 cm high with wiry branches. Stems stellate-puberulent, the hairs less than 1 mm long.  Leaves alternate, simple, 2-8 x 4 cm, lanceolate to rhombic-oblong, acute at the apex, narrowed or cordate at the base, margins serrate-dentate, blades discolorous, puberulent above and below; flowers pedicillate, solitary in axils, disperse along the stem, corolla, 7-10 mm yellow-orange, becoming pinkish; fruit with 9-14 glabrous carpels, 3-4 mm long including spine and 4-5 mm in diameter.
Regiones tropicales y subtropicales.
Régions tropicales et subtropicales.
Tropical and subtropical regions.

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant322

Résumé : Herbácea o subarbusto de hasta 80 cm, con látex blanco lechoso. Hojas opuestas abovadas, elípticas u oblongas de 3 a 7 cm de largo. Flores sésiles, blancas o rosadas, con 5 pétalos unidos por la base formando un tubo con lóbulos libres, solitarias o en grupos en las axilas de las hojas. Fruto trilobular, pubescente, conteniendo de 2 a 3 semillas de color negro, de aprox. 0.5 cm de diámetro.
Plante herbacée ou sous-arbrisseau pouvant atteindre 80 cm de haut, avec un latex blanc laiteux. Feuilles opposées ovées, elliptiques ou oblongues de 3 à 7 cm de longueur. Fleurs sessiles, blanches ou rosées, avec 5 pétales unis par la base et formant un tube aux lobes libres, solitaires ou en groupe sur l';axe des feuilles. Fruit trilobulaire, pubescent, contenant de 2 à 3 graines de couleur noire, dont le diamètre est approximativement de 0.5 cm.
Herb or subshrub, up to 80 cm tall, with white milky latex. Leaves opposite, elliptic or oblong 2-7 cm x 1.5cm; Flowers in 2-3 clusters or solitary, with 5 petals, ranging from white to greenish-yellow to rose-pink to reddish purple, and corolla tube inflated below the limb; fruit a follicle, cylindrical, 1.5-3.5 cm long.
Nativa de Madagascar, ampliamente cultivada y naturalizada en las regiones tropicales.
Originaire de Madagascar, très cultivée et naturalisée dans les régions tropicales.
Native to Madagascar, widely cultivated and naturalized in tropical regions

http://www.tramil.net/fototeca/plant114

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Royal Society, The
Résumé :  
Plant phenology is concerned with the timing of recurring biological events. Though phenology has traditionally been studied using intensive surveys of a local flora, results from such surveys are difficult to generalize to broader spatial scales. In this study, contrastingly, we assembled a continental-scale dataset of herbarium specimens for the emblematic genus of Neotropical pioneer trees, Cecropia, and applied Fourier spectral and cospectral analyses to investigate the reproductive phenology of 35 species. We detected significant annual, sub-annual and continuous patterns, and discuss the variation in patterns within and among climatic regions. Although previous studies have suggested that pioneer species generally produce flowers continually throughout the year, we found that at least one third of Cecropia species are characterized by clear annual flowering behaviour. We further investigated the relationships between phenology and climate seasonality, showing strong associations between phenology and seasonal variations in precipitation and temperature. We also verified our results against field survey data gathered from the literature. Our findings indicate that herbarium material is a reliable resource for use in the investigation of large-scale patterns in plant phenology, offering a promising complement to local intensive field studies
ISSN: 0962-8452

hal-01032193
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032193
DOI : 10.1098/rspb.2010.2259

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Public Library of Science
Résumé : International audience
Mutualisms, or interactions between species that lead to net fitness benefits for each species involved, are stable and ubiquitous in nature mostly due to "byproduct benefits" stemming from the intrinsic traits of one partner that generate an indirect and positive outcome for the other. Here we verify if myrmecotrophy (where plants obtain nutrients from the refuse of their associated ants) can explain the stability of the tripartite association between the myrmecophyte Hirtella physophora, the ant Allomerus decemarticulatus and an Ascomycota fungus. The plant shelters and provides the ants with extrafloral nectar. The ants protect the plant from herbivores and integrate the fungus into the construction of a trap that they use to capture prey; they also provide the fungus and their host plant with nutrients. During a 9-month field study, we over-provisioned experimental ant colonies with insects, enhancing colony fitness (i.e., more winged females were produced). The rate of partial castration of the host plant, previously demonstrated, was not influenced by the experiment. Experimental plants showed higher δ¹⁵N values (confirming myrmecotrophy), plus enhanced vegetative growth (e.g., more leaves produced increased the possibility of lodging ants in leaf pouches) and fitness (i.e., more fruits produced and more flowers that matured into fruit). This study highlights the importance of myrmecotrophy on host plant fitness and the stability of ant-myrmecophyte mutualisms.
PLoS ONE

hal-00913754
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00913754
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00913754/document
DOI : 10.1371/journal.pone.0059405
OATAO : 10202