Bractless

Therefore, the generic question is not the rather obvious "Are bracts attractive to pollinators?" but "How much, and in which way does this trait influence plant reproduction?" The following specific questions are addressed: (1) do bracts increase plant visitation rate?; (2) are bracts critical to the number of pollen grains deposited on the stigma and/or the number of pollen tubes in the style?; (3) is the rate of pollen export affected by the presence of bracts?; (4) do bracts increase fecundity?; and (5) is there any difference in vigor among the progenies of normal and bractless plants?

Overall, bractless shrubs received 2.9 [+ or -] 0.6 pollinators/census, as opposed to 3.8 [+ or -] 0.8 received by controls (i.e., a 23% decrease).