The reproductive ecology of two naturalised Erica species (Ericaceae) in the Adelaide hills: the rise and fall of two 'would-be' weeds?

Abstract

The pollination biology and reproductive ecology of the newly naturalised species Erica cinerea from Europe and E. glandulosa from South Africa (Ericaceae) are reported from the Adelaide Hills from surveys undertaken in 1995 and 2003. Examination of UV floral reflectance, nectar composition and floral visitors found that E. cinerea was honeybee pollinated (although the bees also practiced nectar theft by chewing through the corolla tube), whereas E. glandulosa was probably pollinated by New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae: Meliphagidae) which filled the niche of the nectariniid Sunbirds which pollinate it in South Africa.