''Nesocodon'' is a
monotypic genus of
flowering plants within the
family Campanulaceae. The sole species is ''Nesocodon mauritianus'', formerly known as ''Wahlenbergia mauritiana'', which is
endemic to the island of
Mauritius.
It was the first plant ever discovered that produces red-colored
nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
. It was originally thought to have been pollinated by birds, however, recent investigations have demonstrated that day geckos (''
Phelsuma ornata'') are the preferred pollinator of these flowers whereas birds functioned as nectar thieves. The
red-whiskered bulbul (''Pycnonotus jocosus'')
robs it of its nectar.
[Olesen, J. M., et al. (1998)]
Mauritian red nectar remains a mystery.
''Nature'' 393, 529.
It is closely related to ''
Heterochaenia'' from the
Mascarene Islands
The Mascarene Islands (, ) or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of the islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius as well as the French department of Réunion. Thei ...
, but has single flowers rather than
panicle
A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...
s of several.
References
Campanuloideae
Monotypic Campanulaceae genera
Endemic flora of Mauritius
{{Campanulaceae-stub