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Flower Position and Clonal Integration Drive Intra-Individual Floral Trait Variation in Water-Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Pontederiaceae)

Guilherme Ramos Demetrio,L. Seixas,Flávia de Freitas Coelho

Published 2025 in Biology

ABSTRACT

Simple Summary In this study, we explored how the position of flowers and the connection between plant parts affect the development of individual flowers in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). This plant is known for its invasive ability and unique clonal growth, where new plants form from parts of the parent. We aimed to understand if this clonal connection helps stabilize flower traits when resources are limited. We found that flowers at the bottom of the plant receive more resources, making them larger and more attractive for pollinators. When this clonal connection was removed or the plants were stressed, flower size and pollinator-attracting traits decreased, especially in flowers located higher on the plant. These findings suggest that clonal integration helps water hyacinths maintain reproductive traits even in challenging conditions, possibly aiding their spread. This research offers insights into how plants adapt to varying environments, which could help in managing invasive species like water hyacinth.

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