title: Pollination and airflow patterns around conifer ovulate cones.
abstract: Wind-tunnel studies indicate that the geometry of Pinus ovulate cones may enhance the probability of pollen entrapment by aerodynamically predetermining airflow patterns around scale-bract complexes. Pollination experiments reveal that pollen from a particular species has the highest probability of reaching the ovules of its own species. The phenomenon of species-specific pollination appears to be related to the specific morphometry of scale-bract complexes and the terminal settling velocity of pollen of the same species. These data are interpreted as evidence for a reciprocity between the aerodynamic characteristics of airborne pollen and ovulate cones of some conifer species.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Niklas
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: U