Alcantarea turgida Versieux & Wand.
Literature references:
*move your mouse pointer over the page numbers to see comment
Comments:
- Alcantarea turgida grows as a heliophyte or semisciophyte on rocky outcrops in the southern portion of the Espinhaco range, Rio Doce drainage basin, state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil. It was observed occurring in semi-deciduous montane forest and in campo rupestre (i.e., grassland on rocky soils) vegetation of the Cipo range, usually above 1000m elevation. Its flowers are frequently visited by hummingbirds, especially by Phaethornis pretrei. Bees are also common visitors, perforating the petals to pillage pollen grains. Based on the, IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2001), A. turgida can be considered "Near Threatened" (NT). Regardless of its occurrence within three different protected areas, the common fires in adjacent grazing areas as well as the collection pressure for the ornamental trade constitute real threats for this species in the near future —See Lasser & Maguire 1950
