The Effects of Nectar-Robbing on Fruit Production in Sparattosperma leucanthum (Bignoniaceae)

Many animals behave as robbers or thieves of floral resources, causing damage to floral tissues or consuming resources used to attract pollinators, or producing effects similar to emasculation by reducing the pollen load in the anthers (which generally results in losses in terms of sexual reproduction). The present work examined the direct and indirect impacts caused by nectar-robbing on the reproductive success of Sparattosperma leucanthum. Different manipulations of the flowers were tested to determine if fruit production was influenced by the perforations made in the floral tissues (direct damage), and if there were changes in visitation frequencies or in the behaviors of effective pollinators (indirect damage). Perforations made by nectar robbers did not lower the reproductive success of the plant species studied. The bee Trigona spinipes was the most frequent visitor and caused the largest perforations in the calyx and corolla of S. leucanthum. Additionally, we noted the occurrence of pollen theft by this same bee in flowers that had been protected against nectar-robbing. These results suggest that if S. leucanthum had developed a mechanism of resistance to robbery by T spinipes it would probably have experienced even lower pollination levels as a result of reductions in the quantities of pollen available for transfer by effective pollinators. We were not able to evaluate if nectar depletion through robbery modified the behavior of the effective pollinators (bumblebees of the genus Bombus).

Adenocalymma ubatubensis Assis & Semir, a new species of Bignoniaceae from Ubatuba, São Paulo state, Brazil

Adenocalymma ubatubensis, a new species from southeastern coastal Brazil, is described and illustrated. The species is distinguished by its large pseudostipules and calyx without nectaries.

Staurogyne rubescens (Aeanthaeeae), a new species from southeastern Brazil

A new species of Acantbaceae, Staurogyne rubescens, is described and illustrated. It is endemic to the Brazilian moist forests on the eastern range of mountains named Serra do Mar and is thus far known only from the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Staurogyne rubescens can be distinguished by its lax terminal racemes, with bracts and bracteoles that are foliaceous, and the flowers that have a pink calyx and red corolla. Staurogyne itatiaiae (Wawra) Leonard also has red flowers and occurs in the highlands of the Atlantic rain forest. The distinguishing characters for these two species are presented in tabular format.

Three New Species of Salacia from Mesoamerica (Celastraceae, Salacioideae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeitos da densidade de plantio sobre a qualidade de cravos, Dianthus caryophyllus L.

O trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influência de diferentes densidades populacionais de craveiros, cultivados em casa de vegetação sobre a qualidade das flores. As densidades de plantio estudadas foram de 233.333, 175.000 e 116.667 plantas por hectare, obtidas da utilização dos seguintes espaçamentos: 0,15 m x 0,20 m; 0,20 mx 0,20m e 0,30 m x 0,30 m. Scania Red foi o cultivar utilizado. Os parâmetros analisados foram o número de cravos com cálice inteiro e rachado por planta e por hectare, bem como comprimento da haste com flor, peso da haste com flor e diâmetro da corola. Concluiu-se que o aumento da densidade de plantio ocasionou um acréscimo na produção de cravos com cálice inteiro por hectare, uma diminuição da produção de cravos com cálice rachado por planta, uma diminuição do peso da haste com flor e uma diminuição do diâmetro da corola. Não houve influência da densidade de plantio sobre a produção de cravos com cálice inteiro por planta, sobre a produção de cravos com cálice rachado por hectare e sobre o comprimento da haste com flor.

Morfoanatomia e ontogênese do fruto e semente de Styrax camporum Pohl. (Styracaceae), espécie de cerrado do Estado de São Paulo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Three new species of Vitaceae from mesoamerica

Three new species, Cissus nicaraguensis, C. patellicalyx, and Ampelocissus mesoamericana, are described from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, respectively. Cissus nicaraguensis can be distinguished from all other Neotropical species by the combination of urceolate calyx and simple leaves. Cissus patellicalyx is recognized by its subspherical floral buds, immature fruits minutely tuberculate when dried, and the distinctly raised nerves of the abaxial leaf surface. Ampelocissus mesoamericana is characterized by lenticels, indument, and the obpyriform flower buds.

Adenocalymma ubatubensis Assis and Semir, a new species of Bignoniaceae from Ubatuba, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Adenocalymma ubatubensis, a new species from southeastern coastal Brazil, is described and illustrated. The species is distinguished by its large pseudostipules and calyx without nectaries.

Staurogyne rubescens (Acanthaceae), a new species from southeastern Brazil

A new species of Acanthaceae, Staurogyne rubescens, is described and illustrated. It is endemic to the Brazilian moist forests on the eastern range of mountains named Serra do Mar and is thus far known only from the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Staurogyne rubescens can be distinguished by its lax terminal racemes, with bracts and bracteoles that are foliaceous, and the flowers that have a pink calyx and red corolla. Staurogyne itatiaiae (Wawra) Leonard also has red flowers and occurs in the highlands of the Atlantic rain forest. The distinguishing characters for these two species are presented in tabular format.

Evaluation of the floral vasculature of the Janusia, Mascagnia and Tetrapterys species as a tool to explain the decrease of floral organs in Malpighiaceae

The family Malpighiaceae is considered monophyletic, but the intra-family classification is conflicting. Analyses of floral vasculature allow the identification of reductions, connations and adnations and can even reveal evolutionary steps prior to current floral morphology. The present work analysed the floral vasculature of Janusia mediterranea, Mascagnia cordifolia and Tetrapterys chamaecerasifolia using material processed by traditional methods for light microscopy. A general pattern was observed of three bundle traces supplying each sepal and one trace per petal and stamen; Mascagnia is an exception, as its eglandular sepal has only a median trace but shares lateral traces with adjacent sepals. No dorsal traces are emitted to the carpels; however, three intercarpellary complexes are emitted that divide into six ventral bundles, supplying the ovule. Mascagnia demonstrates connation between the anterior and adjacent sepal glands; reductions of the anterior sepal glands were registered in Tetrapterys and Janusia. This work reveals two distinct processes for gland loss in non-related groups of the family that resulted in similar present appearances. Our evaluation of the number of calyx glands and the processes of glandular loss in species with less than ten glands improves our understanding of the evolution of calyx glands in Malpighiaceae. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH.

Estrutura e função das glândulas florais e dos nectários foliculares em Diplopterys Pubipetala (A. JUSS.) W. R. Anderson & C. Cav. Davis (Malpighiaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The Second Known Species of the Recently Described Genus Keraunea (Convolvulaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diversidade de ácaros em diferentes culturas e em plantas da vegetação natural do Peru, com ênfase nos Phytoseiidae (Mesostigmata)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV