Biologia reprodutiva em Strelitzia reginae Aiton (Strelitziaceae): um estudo de caso
Biologia reprodutiva em Strelitzia reginae Aiton (Strelitziaceae): um estudo de caso
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.4542405031
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Palavras-chave: Pássaros, polinização, Zingiberales
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Keywords: Birds, pollination, Zingiberales
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Abstract: This study explores aspects of the reproductive biology of Strelitzia reginae Aiton, belonging to the Strelitziaceae family. The species in this family have alternate distic leaves, cymose inflorescences subtended by a navicular bract, with showy bisexual flowers, widely used in ornamentation. The family comprises three genera and seven species, with two being monospecific – Ravenala madagascariensis and Phenakospermum guyannense, only the latter being native to Brazil. The genus Strelitzia is native to South Africa, where the species S. reginae is pollinated by endemic birds, however, it was introduced into the country and is frequently used for urban landscaping in several cities. This work aimed to monitor during four days and at three different times, some specimens of S. reginae located at the Federal University of São Carlos, Araras campus (UFSCar-CCA), with the aim of verifying how this species has adapted to the Brazil in reproductive terms, observing the interaction with native floral visitors, and the fruit and seed sets. We observed that most of the inflorescences formed fruits of the loculicidal trilocular woody capsule type, with some containing seeds with a fleshy aril inside. In this way, it is possible that, in addition to vegetative propagation, S. reginae is being pollinated. We consider that carrying out pollen viability and plant self-incompatibility tests are necessary to be able to rule out the possibilities of self-pollination, attributing seed formation to floral visitors, who, in this situation, would become pollinators of the species in this region. Keywords: birds, pollination, Zingiberales.
- Priscila Orlandini
- Nícolas Alberto Polizelli Ricci
- Carolina Giudice Badari
- Kayna Agostini