Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Floral anatomy of Aechmea distichantha Lem. and Canistropsis billbergioides (Schult. & Schult.f) Leme (Bromeliaceae)

ABSTRACT

Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. and Canistropsis (Mez) Leme belong to the subfamily Bromelioideae, which has the largest morphological diversity in Bromeliaceae. The flower buds of Aechmea distichantha Lem. and Canistropsis billbergioides (Schult. & Schult. f.) Leme were collected, fixed, and processed according to usual techniques in plant anatomy. The species share characteristics such as the presence of spherical crystals of silica in the epidermal cells of perianth; idioblasts with raphids; endothecium with annular thickening; and inferior ovary with axillary placentation. Nonvascular petal appendages were observed only in A. distichantha, arranged in pairs on each petal. Both species present a septal nectary, which nectar is rich in of proteins and carbohydrates. A placental obturator occurs in both species and histochemical tests revealed that the secretion produced by the obturator contains carbohydrates and proteins, probably related to the pollen tube guidance.

Keywords:
obturator; petal appendages; septal nectary

Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais Av. Miguel Stefano, 3687 , 04301-902 São Paulo – SP / Brasil, Tel.: 55 11 5067-6057, Fax; 55 11 5073-3678 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: hoehneaibt@gmail.com