Adaptation for rodent pollination in Leucospermum arenarium (Proteaceae) despite rapid pollen loss during grooming.

Background And Aims: Plants are adapted for rodent pollination in diverse and intricate ways. This study explores an extraordinary example of these adaptations in the pincushion Leucospermum arenarium (Proteaceae) from South Africa.

Methods: Live trapping and differential exclusion experiments were used to test the role of rodents versus birds and insects as pollinators.