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American Journal of Botany
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: Wiley Online Library User Agreement
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Soil and climate contribute to maintenance of a flower color polymorphism

Authors: Dena L. Grossenbacher; Magdalene S. Lo; Molly E. Waddington; Ryan O'Dell; Kathleen M. Kay;

Soil and climate contribute to maintenance of a flower color polymorphism

Abstract

Abstract Premise Floral pigments such as anthocyanins are well known to influence pollinator attraction, yet they also confer tolerance to abiotic stressors such as harsh soils, extreme temperatures, low precipitation, and UV radiation. In such cases, environmental variation in abiotic stressors over space or time could lead to the maintenance of flower color variation within species. Under this scenario, flower color in natural populations should covary with environmental stressors. Methods Using a comparative approach, we tested whether abiotic variables predict flower color in Leptosiphon parviflorus , a species with pink and white flower color morphs. We conducted in‐depth field studies to assess morph frequency, soil chemistry, and climate. We then employed community scientist‐powered iNaturalist observations to examine patterns across even larger spatial scales. Results Across 21 field sites, L. parviflorus had a higher frequency of pink morphs in sites with serpentine soil, higher average annual temperatures, and higher average climatic water deficit (a proxy for drought stress). iNaturalist observations supported this finding—the probability of flowers being pink is greater in locations with serpentine‐derived soil, especially when the local average UV radiation and climatic water deficit are higher. Conclusions Spatial variation in abiotic stressors may contribute to the maintenance of flower color variation across the geographic range of L. parviflorus . Future studies will examine mechanisms by which flower color affects stress tolerance and will assess whether fitness trade‐offs in contrasting habitats across the range are associated with flower color.

Country
United States
Keywords

Plant biology, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, ultramafic, Pigmentation, Ultraviolet Rays, Climate, drought stress, Plant Biology, Color, Evolutionary biology, Flowers, Biological Sciences, anthocyanins, polymorphism, Anthocyanins, Leptosiphon parviflorus, Soil, temperature stress, Polemoniaceae, serpentine, flower color

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
8
Top 10%
Average
Top 10%
Green