Nectar sugar composition in Erica

The nectar sugar compositions of 50 species of Erica have been analysed by HPLC. A marked dichotomy in nectar sugars was evident within the genus. Of the ornithophilous species analysed, 29 had sucrose-dominant nectars and eight had hexose-dominant nectars. Both nectar types occurred within the artificial sections into which the genus is currently divided. Our results contradict the idea that flowers pollinated by passerine birds produce hexose-dominant nectars. © 1995.