Unique Pollen Reception in Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers., a Tropical Weed of Family Papilionaceae

Flowering plants display a spectrum of breeding systems ranging from obligate xenogamy practiced by dioecious and self-incompatible taxa, to strict autogamy in species with cleistogamous flowers. Studies done on related species in different genera and families clearly depict selfing to be a derived condition. The reason for this includes assurance of seed-set, particularly in conditions of pollen or pollinator limitations. Several features are known to facilitate this transition from out-crossing to selfing, recent addition to which is the unique stigma and stylar movements.