Reproductive ecology of Asclepias meadii Torr. ex A.Gray (Apocynaceae), a federally threatened species1

Abstract Reproductive success in the federally threatened species Asclepias meadii is limited by several factors, including the increasing age and fragmentation of populations, low fruit set, and potential disease. We investigated the reproductive ecology of three isolated populations of A. meadii over five seasons (2010–14) in Missouri and Kansas. Experimental hand-pollinations showed that flowers at all sites were incapable of automatic self-pollination (autogamy) and lacked early acting self-incompatibility. The average number of ovaries with pollen tubes in open (insect-mediated) pollination varied from 0.10 to 0.81 depending on site and season. The conversion rate of ovaries into fruits never exceeded more than two fruits per umbel with insect-mediated fruit set varying from 0% to 50% according to site and season. Nectar was the only reward with a per-flower volume as high as 5 μL containing dissolved sugars from 21% to ≥ 50%. The nectar was hexose dominant, and the amino acid content was limited to ...