Floral biology of Chaenorrhinum minus (Scrophulariaceae) a self-compatible annual [Floral characteristics, phenology, nectar, pollinators, New York]

The floral biology of Chaenorrhinum minus (L.) Lange (Scrophulariaceae) was studied at two sites in central New York State. Individual flowers are short-lived (approximately 24 hr). Small plants generally produce flowers intermittently More vigorous individuals produce many flower-bearing branches, which increases the probability that they will have at least one flower open when a pollinator visits the patch. Chaenorrhinum minus is self-compatible, though it has adaptations for insect pollination. The only insect pollinators observed during 2 seasons were halictid bees. These visited infrequently Accordingly, most of the flowers in the population of C. minus were self-fertilized.