Reproductive biology of Sarcocapnos pulcherrima Morales & Romero (Fumariaceae), a threatened species

The knowledge of factors limiting reproduction in rare plants can aid in formulating effective management practices. We studied the floral and reproductive biology of Sarcocapnos pulcherrima Morales & Romero (Fumariaceae), an endemic species from the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. Flowering lasts from January to June, peaking in March and May. The mean production of flowers per individual and the mean percentage of individuals in flower showed sensitivity to monthly temperatures, this sensitivity being more patent when the data were related to the temperatures of the previous month. S. pulcherrima is a self-compatible species, but it is not capable of spontaneosus autogamy. The greater reproductive success in experiment with hand-crossing pollination, the P/O value, and the lack of fruits from flowers isolated against pollinators support the idea of a facultative allogamy as breeding system.