4-YEAR GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF CYCLOPOGON-CRANICHOIDES (ORCHIDACEAE) IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Number of plants with above-ground growth steadily decreased by c20% each year. In some cases there was evidence that disappearance of plants was not due to mortality but to a transition into a subterranean state. Small plants were most likely to make this transition. Flower number was significantly associated with plant size. Fruiting success was pollinator-limited; fruit set of hand-pollinated individuals was >96%, whereas natural fruit set ranged from 26% in 1987 to 62% in 1988. Fruit set did not have any effect on growth or reproduction the following year. -from Author