title: Variation in nectar volume and sugar concentration of Allium ursinum L. ssp. ucrainicum in three habitats.
abstract: Floral nectar volume and concentration of ramson (Allium ursinum L. ssp. ucrainicum) were investigated in three different habitats, including two types of sessile oak-hornbeam association on brown forest soil with clay illuviation and a silver lime-flowering ash rock forest association on rendzina. Daily nectar production ranged from 0.1 to 3.8 μL per flower with sugar concentrations of 25 to 50%. Mean nectar volumes and concentrations showed significant differences between freely exposed flowers and covered flowers, which had been isolated from flower visitors 24 h prior to nectar studies. Both the amount and quality of nectar were affected by microclimatic conditions and soil properties and varied between populations at different habitats. In the silver lime-flowering ash rock-forest association mean nectar volumes and concentrations were lower than in a typical sessile oak-hornbeam association on three occasions, the difference being significant in two cases. During full bloom, the date of sampling did not have a profound effect on either nectar volume or concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical School, University of Pécs, Rókus u. 2. 7624 Pécs, Hungary. agnes.farkas@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Réka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molnár
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morschhauser
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D017753:Ecosystem; D035264:Flowers; D057048:Plant Nectar
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D057048:Plant Nectar