The Reproductive Biology of Two Species of Diplusodon Pohl (Lythraceae) from Serra do Cipó, Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract: The reproductive biology of two shrub species of Diplusodon (Lythraceae), D. hirsutus and D. orbicularis, was studied. Their distribution is restricted, mainly associated with “campos rupestres”, a montane biome in SE Brazil. Both species proved to be self‐compatible but because of herkogamy they are greatly dependent on visitors to effect pollination. The main pollinators are medium‐sized bees. In experiments where pollinators were excluded or discouraged the percentage of abscised fruits was total or extremely high; most of these fruits dropped within the first two weeks after pollination in D. orbicularis and three weeks in D. hirsutus. The percentage of surviving fruits from control or manual pollination was higher in D. orbicularis (ca. 70 %) than in D. hirsutus (ca. 50 %). Seed set was very variable, with slightly lower means in D. hirsutus. Within each species the mean seed set was similar in self‐, cross‐pollinated fruits, and controls. In both species, the similarity between control and manual pollination fruit survival curves suggests that factors other than pollen limitation are the cause of abortion in the study area. The high rate of abscission, which was also observed in unmanipulated fruits, was attributed to resource limitation. In D. hirsutus this was caused by drought during seed development. In D. orbicularis it was enhanced by nutrient drain by shoot‐galling flies. The lack of selective abortion of either selfed fruits or fruits with a small number of seeds may be a useful mechanism to overcome this detrimental effect which is felt later during fruit development.