ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information on its breeding system, pollination biology, and reproductive efficiency. Although the flowers of Hibiscus are among the largest in North America, surprisingly little is known about its reproductive biology. The reproductive biology of Hibiscus moscheutos was studied in a marsh near Annapolis, Maryland for two years. In spite of large stigmatic pollen loads, fruit set was only 52.6% and 2.4% in successive years indicating that factors other than pollen generally limit fruit set. The primary pollinator was the solitary bee, Ptilothrix bombiformis, which actively collected both nectar and pollen from flowers. In spite of large stigmatic pollen loads, fruit set was only 52.6% and 2.4% in successive years indicating that factors other than pollen generally limit fruit set. Seed set within developed fruits was high; however, the larvae of bruchid beetles and weevils reduced the number of developing seeds by 53.2% and 89.2% in the two years studied.
