Synchronized flowering and seed dispersal in Miconia
Records were kept for 12 yr of the synchronized flowering of 6 species of Miconia (M. elata; M. matthaei; M. hyperprasina; M. gracilis; M. trinervia, syn. M. scorpioides; and M. minutiflora, syn. M. borealis, in part) in a single locality in southern Costa Rica. All the trees or treelets of a single species bloomed profusely on one or two days, mostly in the drier weather early in the year. After an interval during which scarcely any flowers have opened, another general flowering may occur. Only exceptionally do two species bloom on the same day. The tiny, fragrant, nectarless white flowers attract pollen-gathering bees and other small insects, but neither butterflies nor hummingbirds. The species studies produced abundant crops of small, juicy berries that were eaten by at least 62 species of birds, most of which appeared to disseminate the seeds. Huge numbers of tiny flowers enabled the plants to produce many small berries and by synchronized flowering, the trees compensated for the inconspicuousness of single florets.
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| Format: | biblioteca |
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1988
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| Subjects: | MELASTOMATACEAE, FLORACION, DISEMINACION DE SEMILLAS, COSTA RICA, |
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