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Filament Teeth as an Obstacle to Self-Pollination
by Bob Harms
Filament teeth, which have figured significantly in the taxonomy of the Mahonia species, have never been considered from a functional perspective with regard to their impact on insect visitors to the Berberis nectaries. My impression is that once the filaments have closed around the pistil, these appendages would serve to block access of smaller insects to the pistil and stigma, forcing them to exit between the filaments and the petals.