Floral biology and reproductive ecology of Clusia nemorosa (Clusiaceae) in northeastern Brazil

Between March 1993 and May 1995 the floral biology and the phenology of Clusia nemorosa G. MEY. (Clusiaceae) were studied in two dioecious populations in Pernambuco State, and some observations were made in gynodioecious populations, that were encountered only in Bahia State. The species flowers from June to January/February. The flowers are bowl shaped, and last only one day. The floral reward is resin which is produced by staminodia in all types of flowers. The sex ratio was 1:1 for the studied populations. The pollen viability was approximately 98%. Apomixis was not observed. The rate of fruit set, in hermaphrodite individuals, under natural conditions and the sex ratio of the gynodioecious populations studied suggest that the hermaphrodite individuals may behave as males. Clusia nemorosa is melittophilous and was visited by 16 species of bees. The main pollinators were Euplusia mussitans, E. iopyhrra, Eulaema cingulata, E. nigrita, Euglossa cordata and Euglossa sp.