Search

Undocumented taxonomic characters have been described for Spermacoce hispida L. and Spermacoce articularis L. S. hispida is bimorphic. The flowers are weakly protandrous, nectariferous and self-pollinating. Butterflies, bees and thrips are important as pollinators. The highest natural fruit set evidenced in these species is attributed to auto-selfing and entomophily. Fruits dehisce septicidally in S. hispida and S. articularis and circumscissile mode in Spermacoce pusilla Wall. Seed dispersal is anemo-, baro-, ombro- and hydro- chorous. These species occupy different habitats to avoid competition for pollinators and maximize seed output and expand their distribution range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]