Catopsis berteroniana (Schult.f.) Mez
Taxonomic Change:
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- The Florida Bromeliads: Catopsis berteroniana Bradley C. Bennett in JBS 35(6): 159-61. 1985
The name Catopsis, thought to be derived from the Greek word meaning a place with a view (Smith and Woods 1975), aptly describes the habit of at least one member of the genus. Catopsis berteroniana, commonly called the yellow catopsis, is a sunloving, tank epiphyte that grows in the upper canopy of its hosts. Though not widespread in Florida, C. berteroniana is locally abundant in a few habitats. Craighead (1963) noted that it occurs in hammocks of the Everglades National Park (ENP). It is found, more commonly, in mangrove stands that are protected from wind and salt spray and in cypress and pop ash swamps.
In the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve (FSSP), C. berteroniana occurs higher in the canopy than 17 other epiphytes with which it is associated (average height = 5.2 m). Dwarf red mangrove stands in ENP support individuals at a height of 0.5 to 1.5 m, but these are still in the most exposed portion of the canopy. Other bromeliads commonly found with C. berteroniana include Tillandsia balbisiana, T. fasciculata, T. flexuosa, T. paucifolia, and T. recurvata in ENP, and C.,floribunda, Guvnania monostachia, T. setacea, and T. variabilis in the FSSP. Flowering populations in the Everglades are easily located since the inflorescence protrudes above the canopy while the rosette is located within the crown. In this position, seeds are readily dispersed by the wind and the vegetative portion of the plant is afforded protection, but is not shaded by its host.
The yellow-green, wax-coated leaves of C. berteroniana easily distinguish this species from other Florida bromeliads. Leaves are 30-50 cm long, 4-8 cm wide, and covered with a white, waxy powder. One possible function of this coating is to capture insects. Those that fall into the rosette are unable to climb the slippery leaves, but they can exit if the white powder is removed (Fish 1978 cited in Ward 1979). The powder may also attract insects to the plant. Fish noted that nutrient procurement is especially important in the upper canopy. Another possible function is water retention. Water collected in the rosette often is covered with the white powder and this film may retard evaporation. Although preliminary experiments have not detected such effects, most epiphytes depend on stem-flow or leaf-drip for water and nutrients. These sources are not available for high canopy dwellers such as C. berteroniana so that adaptations for procurement and economical use of water and nutrient are of great value.
Inflorescences of C. berteroniana are bipinnate except on small rosettes which often bear a simple spike. The polystichous spike has many widely spaced flowers and may be up to 100 cm in length. Flowers in the Florida population are perfect, which means that they possess both male and female reproductive parts. They may be dimorphic elsewhere (Smith and Downs 1977). Sepals are 9-12 mm long, often exceeding the length of the 3 white petals. Sepals are 9-12 mm long, often exceeding the length of the 3 white petals. Stamens and stigma are included so potential pollinators must gain access through the 2-4 mm opening formed by the sepals. The beaked capsule is up to 1.5 cm long. It may contain as many as 30 plumose seeds each having a hair-like seed appendage termed a coma. This form of seed is a characteristic of the genus Catopsis.
Seeds of C. berteroniana germinate readily if certain conditions are met. Abundant moisture is critical, but seeds must also dry thoroughly between waterings for optimal germination. Few seeds germinate under natural conditions and mortality is high for both seedlings and adult plants. Almost 10 % of a population in ENP was lost because of wind throw, bark exfoliation, and unknown causes in an eight-month period (Bennett, MS).
Floral anatomy of the Florida populations suggests self-pollination. Moreover, individuals in greenhouse often set seed. Field studies in ENP also have demonstrated seed set in bagged inflorescences. Although enclosures prevented access by most insects, ants sometimes were found on the inflorescences. They may have been hidden within the floral bracts prior to enclosure. Ant pollination is rare and it is unlikely that they are obligate pollinators of C. berteroniana. Should it occur, ant pollination would most often result in pollen transfer within a plant. This is the evolutionary equivalent of self-pollination. Ants visit flowers of the yellow catopsis presumably to forage for nectar. C. berteroniana may benefit from the nitrogenous wastes of these visitors. The ants also may interfere with herbivores as do those associated with some tropical Acacia species.
As with many bromeliads, offshoots usually are produced after the formation of a floral scape. They are produced occasionally by nonflowering rosettes. Each rosette flowers once and then dies (a condition known as monocarpy) but, because of the formation of offshoots which eventually flower, a genetic individual of C. berteroniana is polycarpic.
C. berteroniana is found throughout the Caribbean and in South America as far south as Brazil. Although locally abundant in a few habitats in Florida these wetland areas are among the most sensitive plant communities and rapidly are being destroyed.
As a result, C. berteroniana, which had been classified by the state as threatened, has now been added to the endangered list (Florida Statutes Revised, 1985, Section 581.185). The persistence of natural populations of this bromeliad is unlikely unless additional protection and monitoring are provided and its wetland habitats are preserved. —See Gouda 1987
- C. berteroniana is predominantly homoecious and only rarely dioecious (S. Mexico). Both pistillate and staminate plants are now known from Veracruz, Chiapas and Oaxaca, Mexico. also El Salvador —See Palaci 1997
