Abstract：The pollination ecology of Corydalis sheareri var. bulbillifera (Papaveraceae),a spring flowering perennial herb, was studied over a 3 year period in Yue lu Mountain of Changsha.Our results show that this species is facultatively autogamous and its mating system deponds on the weater during the blooming season.Its autogamy adapts to rainy weather in which the pollinators are not available. The innate factors responsible for its autogamy are cleisto pollination, self compatibility and connection of the inner petals. On fine days the cleisto pollination becomes secondary pollen prerentaion in cross pollination. The pollinator is Colletes cunicularis of which the pollination is xenogamy. After the fertilization, the corolla remains showy and viability of fhe pollens does not decline. In an attempt to explain auch a phenomenon.We present two nonexclusive hypotheses: the pollinator attracion hypothsis and the male function hypothesis.
