title: A technique for measuring petal gloss, with examples from the Namaqualand flora.
abstract: The degree of floral gloss varies between species. However, little is known about this distinctive floral trait, even though it could be a key feature of floral biotic and abiotic interactions. One reason for the absence of knowledge is the lack of a simple, repeatable method of gloss measurement that can be used in the field to study floral gloss. A protocol is described for measuring gloss in petal samples collected in the field, using a glossmeter. Repeatability of the technique is assessed. We demonstrate a simple yet highly accurate and repeatable method that can easily be implemented in the field. We also highlight the huge variety of glossiness found within flowers and between species in a sample of spring-blooming flowers collected in Namaqualand, South Africa. We discuss the potential uses of this method and its applications for furthering studies in plant-pollinator interactions. We also discuss the potential functions of gloss in flowers.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom. heather.whitney@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.forename: Sean A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rands
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Elton
authors.forename: Allan G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D035264:Flowers / Q000502:physiology*; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000379:methods*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D013019:South Africa