Skip to main content
Log in

Reproductive biology ofCaesalpinia calycina andC. pluviosa (Leguminosae) of the caatinga of north-eastern Brazil

  • Published:
Plant Systematics and Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The pollination biology, breeding system and fruiting success ofCaesalpinia calycina andC. pluviosa var.sanfranciscana were studied in caatinga vegetation in Bahia, NE Brazil. The principal pollinators for both species were carpenter bees.Caesalpinia calycina is andromonoecious but inC. pluviosa all flowers are hermaphrodite. InC. calycina all selfed flowers were abscised within 72 h despite rapid self-pollen tube growth to the ovary and ovule penetration. Prevention of selfing therefore seems to be controlled by a post-zygotic mechanism. Both species had very low fruit-set and it is suggested that this is at least in part due to geitonogamous pollinations with ovule penetration by self pollen tubes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arroyo, M. T. K., 1981: Breeding systems and pollination biology inLeguminosae. — InPolhill, R. M., Raven, P. H., (Eds): Advances in legume systematics,2, pp. 723–769. — Richmond: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bawa, K. S., 1974: Breeding systems of tree species of a lowland tropical community. — Evolution28: 85–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1989: Seed: ovule ratios, selective seed abortion, and mating systems inLeguminosae. — InStirton, C. H., Zarucchi, J. L., (Eds): Advances in legume biology. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.29: 243–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1984: Flower, fruit and seed abortion in tropical forest trees: implications for the evolution of paternal and maternal reproductive patterns. — Amer. J. Bot.71: 736–751.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertin, R. I., 1993: Incidence of monoecy and dichogamy in relation to self-fertilization in angiosperms. — Amer. J. Bot.80: 557–560.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bierzychudek, P., 1981: Pollinator limitation of plant reproductive effort. — Amer. Naturalist.117: 838–840.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bubar, J. S., 1959: Differences between self-incompatibility and self-sterility. — Nature183: 411–412.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bullock, S. H., 1985: Breeding systems in the flora of a tropical deciduous forest in Mexico. — Biotropica17: 287–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocucci, A. A., Galetto, L., Sersic, A., 1992: El sindrome floral deCaesalpinia gilliesii (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae). — Darwiniana31: 111–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruden, R. W., 1976: Intraspecific variation in pollen-ovule ratios and nectar secretion — preliminary evidence of ecotypic adaptation. — Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard.63: 277–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1979: Butterfly pollination ofCaesalpinia pulcherrima, with observations on the psychophilous syndrome. — J. Ecol.67: 155–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, P. E., Sassaki, R., 1998: Reproductive biology ofDalbergia miscolobium Benth. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in SE Brazil: the effects of pistillate sorting on fruit-set. — Ann. Bot.81: 735–740.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johansen, J., 1940: Plant microtechnique. — New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, C. E., Buchman, S., 1974: Ultraviolet floral patterns as functional orientation cues in hymenopterous pollination systems. — Anim. Behav.22: 481–485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenrick, J., Kaul, V., Williams, E. G., 1986: Self-incompatibility inAcacia retinodes: site of pollen-tube arrest is the nucellus. — Planta169: 245–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klekowski, E. J., 1988: Mutation, developmental selection and plant evolution. — New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, G. P., 1998:Caesalpinia: a revision of thePoincianella-Erythrostemon group. pp. 233. — Richmond: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, F. M., 1959: Staining and observing pollen in the style by means of fluorescence. — Stain Technol.34: 125–128.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, S. J., 1989: Stigma, style, pollen, and the pollen-stigma interaction inCaesalpinioideae. — InStirton, C. H., Zarucchi, J. L., (Eds): Advances in legume biology. — Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard.29: 113–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez, N., Sobrevila, C., de Enrech, N. X., Ruiz-Zapata, T., 1984: Floral biology and breeding system ofBauhinia benthamiana Taub. (Leguminosae), a bat-pollinated tree in the Venezuelan “Llanos”. — Amer. J. Bot.71: 273–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sage, T. L., Bertin, R. I., Williams, E. G., 1994: Ovarian and other late-acting self-incompatibility systems. — InWilliams, E. G., Knox, R. B., Clarke, A. E., (Eds): Genetic control of self-incompatibility and reproductive development in flowering plants, pp. 116–140. — Amsterdam: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seavey, S. R., Bawa, K. S., 1986: Late-acting self-incompatibility in angiosperms. — Bot. Rev.52: 195–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogel, S., 1990: Radiación adaptiva del síndrome floral en las familias neotropicales. — Bol. Acad. Nac. Ci.59: 5–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waser, N. M., Price, M. V., 1991: Reproductive costs of self-pollination inIpomopsis aggregata (Polemoniaceae): are ovules usurped? — Amer. J. Bot.78: 1036–1043.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, C. J., Bawa, K. S., 1985: Patterns of fruit and seed production inBauhinia ungulata (Leguminosae). — Pl. Syst. Evol.151: 55–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willson, M. F., Schemske, D. W., 1980: Pollinator limitation, fruit production and floral display in pawpaw (Asimina triloba). — Bull. Torrey Bot. Club107: 401–408.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewis, G., Gibbs, P. Reproductive biology ofCaesalpinia calycina andC. pluviosa (Leguminosae) of the caatinga of north-eastern Brazil. Pl Syst Evol 217, 43–53 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984921

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00984921

Key words

Navigation