Reproductive biology of Hechtia schottii, a dioecious Bromeliaceae, in Mexico.
Hechtia schottii is a terrestrial, rosetofilous, dioecious, polycarpic succulent herb, that grows mainly in shrubby associations, and less frequently, in secondary low caducifolious forests, both on calcareous soils or limestone outcrops in Yucatan and Campeche States, Mexico. We studied phenology, floral and pollination biology, and breeding system at Calcehtok, Yucatan, during two flowering seasons. Plants bloom mainly during the dry season (November-April) and disperse seeds during the rainy season (May-October). Both floral morphs have diurnal anthesis; pollen is removed ca. 1 h after anthesis starts and both floral morphs are visited by several insect species, especially bees, but results suggest that the introduced honey bee, Apis mellifera, is the pollinator. Controlled crossings show that the species is functionally dioecious and requires to be serviced by pollinators based on fruit setting only in unassisted cross pollination crosses.
Morillo
Ivón M Ramírez
IM
Centro de Investigación Cientifica de Yucatán, AC, Herbario CICY, Colonia Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida 97200, Yucatán, México. ramirez@cicy.mx
May
Francisco Chi
FC
Fernández-Concha
Germán Carnevali
GC
Pat
Filogonio May
FM
D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D031229:Bromeliaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008800:Mexico; D054817:Pollination / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons