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Pollination by hummingbirds and bees in eight syntopic species and a putative hybrid of Ericaceae in Southeastern Brazil

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Abstract

We report on flowering phenology, floral morphology, pollinators, and nectar for eight species and a putative natural hybrid belonging to Agarista, Gaultheria and Gaylussacia that occur syntopically in a montane area. The campanulate to tubular flowers of eight out of nine Ericaceae taxa are primarily pollinated by either hummingbirds or bees. Flowering overlaps in all species but slight differences of floral shape, colour, and nectar characterize pollination by each pollinator group. Differences in floral traits are not large enough to exclude secondary pollinators. Thus, either the main pollinators of a species belonging to its syndrome, or secondary pollinators of a species belonging to different syndromes, may allow for inter-specific crosses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leão, 915, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22460-030, Brasil

    L. Freitas

  2. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, CC 495, Córdoba, 5000, Argentina

    L. Galetto

  3. Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6109, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brasil

    M. Sazima

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  1. L. Freitas
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  2. L. Galetto
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  3. M. Sazima
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Correspondence to L. Freitas.

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Freitas, L., Galetto, L. & Sazima, M. Pollination by hummingbirds and bees in eight syntopic species and a putative hybrid of Ericaceae in Southeastern Brazil. Plant Syst. Evol. 258, 49–61 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-005-0392-7

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