Leaf colour patterns, vegetative and sexual reproduction of Episcia ...

Table 1: Measured floral characteristics of Episcia lilacina.
n (number of
flowers measured)
Average value and standard
deviation (in mm)
Minimum to
Maximum (in mm)
Length of corolla
tube
Width of the
flower entrance
Height of the
flower entrance
Width of the
widest part of tube
Height of the
widest part of tube
Width of the
narrowest part of
tube
Height of the
narrowest part of
tube
25 38 ± 2,62 29 – 41
25 3 ± 0,5 2 – 4
25 5,8 ± 0,64 5 – 7
25 4,5 ± 0,91 3 – 6
25 7,4 ± 0,65 6 – 8
25 3,5 ± 0,77 1 – 5
25 4,8 ± 0,62 4 – 6
Limb diameter 25 42 ± 3,46 35 – 49
Length of stamina 21 17 ± 1,49 13 – 20
Length of style 21 15 ± 1,10 12 – 17
Height of ovary 21 2,9 ± 0,38 2 – 4
Diameter of ovary 21 2,1 ± 0,30 2 – 3
Discussion: The limiting factor considering the legitimate pollinator is the tube of Episcia
lilacina. The average length of tube of 38 mm implies that the proboscis of the pollinator has to
be of about equal length, because there exists an evolutionary correlation between tube length
and proboscis length (Nilsson 1988). Bumblebees, for instance, belong to the largest insects
acting as legitimate pollinators, but possess proboscises approaching only 10 mm in length (Barth
1991). Insects that are to be considered effective pollinators thus only include butterflies
(Lepidoptera) and large neotropical bees e.g. Euglossini.
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