Abstract:From a conservation perspective, understanding plant-pollinator interactions and floral biology of endangered species is critical in a rapidly changing world. Sinosenecio jishouensis D. G. Zhang, Y. Liu & Q. E. Yang is a new Asteraceous species (genus Sinosenecio) recently ascertained. According to IUCN Red Species List S. jishouensis ranked as the Critically Endangered Species (CR), for its extremely small and rare populations. However, little is known about the reproductive biology of this endangered species. Our results demonstrated that S. jishouensis occurred only in the Dehang Geological Park, Jishou City, Hunan Province. S. jishouensis distributed on an altitude of 260-340 m, and the environmental conditions were mildly warm and relatively humid. The yellow-red soil in its habitat, which was rich in calcium, has a pH value of about 6.8. There were totally 2000-3000 individuals distributed in 3 populations in the Dehang Geological Park, suggesting this species is at risk of becoming extinct. The Canyon Fall population was the largest one, with nearly 2000 individuals, which is an important population for conservation priorities. Its shoots began to sprout in Early Februray, and the scape appeared by the end of February or the early March; the flowering season was from mid-March to mid-May. S. jishouensis has herkogamy flowers with a 3-5d longevity. For a single capitulum, it could last 18 days. Secondary pollen presentation, a typical phenomenon in Asteraceae, were conspicuous during floret openning. Our observation suggested that Caliroa sawfly, Apis cerana and syrphid fly were the effective pollinators and visited flowers for collecting pollen. Our study indicated that floral structures, flowering synchronizatio, and "brush-like mechanism" were floral adaptations to improve the effective pollination. Furthermore, characteristics of its breeding system, such as small achenes without pappus and relying mainly on both clone production and sexual production, ensure reproductive success even when pollinators are scarce in the Canyon Fall special habitat. It may be adaptive strategies to the Canyon Fall special habitat. On the other hand, the human-made interference, the scarce flower-visiting pollination, low visiting frequency and efficiency, the small number of seeds with poor quality and dispersal, together with its strict demands on habitat conditions were the main causes for the rare and endangered status of S. jishouensis.