Lenzi et al. 2006 (Article) Aechmea [Portuguese]

Morphological and reproductive variation of Aechmea lindenii (E. Morren) Baker var. lindenii (Bromeliaceae)

Author(s):—M. Lenzi, J.Z. Matos & A.I. Orth

Publication:—Acta bot. bras. 20(2): 487-500. (2006)

Portuguese title:—Variação morfológica e reprodutiva de Aechmea lindenii (E. Morren) Baker var. lindenii (Bromeliaceae)

Abstract:—The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the luminosity on morphological and reproductive characteristics of A. lindenii, in environments of “restinga herbácea” (high luminosity) and on an understory of a “restinga arbórea” (low luminosity), in Florianópolis, SC, where the results indicate that the luminosity can influence the bromeliad’s phenotype, nectar production, phenology and reproductive success. The shade tolerant plants are bigger and present a flowering period of around 120 days, while the heliophytic plants are smaller and blossom throughout all year. The species presents ornithophilous floral attributes, being the volume (16,7 μL ± 4) and concentration (27,25%) of the nectar produced by the flowers characteristic of a hummingbird pollinated flower. The frequent visitation of Amazilia fimbriata, Thalurania glaucopis and Thalurania sp. (Trochilidae) confirms this suggestion; however bees and butterflies can also be considered potential pollinators, suggesting co-evolution of secondary floral syndromes. Based on the results of manual pollination tests and on the development of the polinic tubes, can be concluded that the species does not present self-incompatibility, forming fruits with fertile seeds, with a germination rate higher than 80%, both in cross-pollination as well as in selfing tests. The heliophytic population presented a high rate of parthenocarpy (52, 95%) and showed to be a safe and efficient method to evaluate the fertilization of the flowers, being possible to relate the frequency and abundance of parthenocarpy to the absence or inefficiency of the pollinators. The fruits and seeds were dispersed by birds of the families Thraupidae and Pipridae and predated by larva of the butterfly Tecla sp. (Lycaenidae).

Keywords:—Bromeliaceae, Atlantic rainforest, breeding systems, floral syndromes, parthenocarpy