Scilloideae - Ecology

Ecology

Scilloideae are widely distributed in Europe, Africa and Asia, in temperate to tropical habitats, but are more diverse in areas of Mediterranean climate (i.e., with a pronounced dry season during the summer). The showy flowers of many species of the subfamily are pollinated by a wide range of insects including bees, wasps, flies and moths, as well as birds. Both nectar and pollen act as incentives to pollinating species.

Scilloideae reproduce both sexually and asexually. In the latter case, reproduction may be vegetative by bulbils or by seeds through apomixis. The dispersal of seeds may occur by water, wind, or by ants attracted by elaiosomes.