Hi, Very interesting information Neil jee and very nice pics both of the flowers and the weaver ants nests . Thanks for sharing Regards Bhagyashri On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 6:36 PM, Neil Soares <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi, > Thought this might be interesting. > > Had recently posted photographs of Tamilnadia uliginosa flowering at this > link : > > > https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en&fromgroups#!search/Tamilnadia$20uliginosa$20Neil$20Soares/indiantreepix/_I_554libzc/wG9YyY77dOgJ > > Have over the last few weekends on visits to my property at Shahapur, > noticed that while Catunaregam spinosa [Ghela] & Meyna laxiflora [Aaliv] > were fruiting freely, Tamilnadia uliginosa [Pandhari] showed no such > inclination. > > A plausible explanation : > > Ants feed on a variety of substances such as sugar matter, nectar, seeds, > other ants & invertebrates. > Ants are ineffecient pollinators and are likely to interfere with pollen > germination and pollen tube growth [because their antibiotic secretions > Myrmicacins are known to suppress bacterial & fungal growth in their > nests]. To offset this several plants provide ants with alternate nectar > sources called 'extrafloral nectaries'. > > As seen in these photographs, the Asiatic species of Weaver Ants > [Oecophylla smaragdina] have possibly prevented pollination of the flowers > of Pandhari by incorporating them within their nests. > > With regards, > Neil Soarres. > > > > > -- Regards Bhagyashri
