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Pollination mechanisms and pollinators are reported for a total of 137 species (75% of the non‐abiotically pollinated flora) as they occur at three altitudinal levels (subandean scrub: 2,200–2,600 m; cushion‐plant zone: 2,700–3,100 m; subnival feldfield: 3,200–3,600 m) in the Andean (alpine) zone on the Cordon del Cepo (33°17'S) in central Chile as part of community oriented research in reproductive biology in the high temperate Andes of South America. Only around 4% of the species studied failed to be visited by potential pollinators. Hymenopterans (principally bees) are important pollinators of 50% of the biotically pollinated flora, butterflies of 24% and flies of 46%. Other vectors include beetles, moths, and hummingbirds. An estimated 17% of the flora is anemophilous.

Bee species‐richness, specialist feeding, and melittophily reach maxima in the subandean scrub; thereafter, bees diminish rapidly in number …