Reproductive biology of Cipocereus minensis (Cactaceae)—A columnar cactus endemic to rupestrian fields of a Neotropical savannah

• Published in: Flora. Morphologie, Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie, 2016-02, Vol.218, p.62-67
• Main Authors: Martins, Cristiane, Oliveira, Reisla, Filho, Carlos Victor Mendonça, Lopes, Liliane Teixeira, Silveira, Rodrigo Assunção, de Silva, Juliana Aparecida Pereira, Aguiar, Ludmilla M.S., Antonini, Yasmine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoidea; Brazil; breeding; Cactaceae; cacti and succulents; Chiroptera; Chiropterophily; color; corolla; Endemic species; fruit set; hummingbirds; mountains; nectar secretion; Nocturnal and diurnal pollinators; pollen; Pollen limitation; pollination; pollinators; reproductive success; savannas; Self-incompatibility; tropics
• ISSN: 0367-2530; 1618-0585
• DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2015.11.010

•Reproductive biology of Cipocereus minensis, an endemic cactus of Brazil, is presented.•C. minensis has large, horizontal, cream-colored, chiropterophilous flowers.•Pollination experiments revealed that the cactus is an obligate xenogamous species.•Bats are the prominent pollinators, generating higher fruit set than diurnal visitors. We studied the reproductive biology of Cipocereus minensis, an endemic columnar cactus of the Espinhaço Mountain Range, Southeastern Brazil, focusing on floral biology, breeding system, and pollination. We described floral morphology and evaluated the role of nocturnal and diurnal pollinators on the reproductive success in two populations. C. minensis has large, horizontal, cream-colored, chiropterophilous flowers with rigid petals that open at dusk and close on the following morning. Flowers produced a huge amount of pollen grains and nectar production was nocturnal. Controlled pollination experiments revealed that the cactus is an obligate xenogamous species. Visitor-exclusion experiments revealed that the nocturnal visitors (bats) are the prominent pollinators whereas hummingbirds and social bees, which visited the flowers early in the morning, contributed little to fruit set. We conclude that the reproductive success of this endemic columnar cactus is threatened in the absence of the effective pollinating bats.