Heterostyly, homostyly, and long-distance dispersal of Menyanthes trifoliata to Greenland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Author: Olesen, Jens Mogens
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1987
• Subjects: Plant Science; Greenland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b87-208; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b87-208

An old report of homostyly in Menyanthes trifoliata L. in Greenland has been used as supporting evidence for the generally accepted hypothesis called Baker's law of long-distance dispersal. Measurements of flowers from both Denmark and Greenland throw considerable doubt on the existence of homostyly in this species. Several reports and observations suggest that seeds of M. trifoliata are frequently brought to Greenland by a few species of birds, especially geese, and that its seeds have great buoyancy in water.