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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2007; 9(1): 127-135
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924544
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Growth Rates, Reproductive Phenology, and Pollination Ecology of Espeletia grandiflora (Asteraceae), a Giant Andean Caulescent Rosette

J. C. Fagua1 , V. H. Gonzalez2
  • 1Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, P.O. Box 23360, San Juan 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
  • 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Snow Hall, 1460 Jayhawk Blvd, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received: December 16, 2005

Accepted: August 5, 2006

Publication Date:
25 October 2006 (online)

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Abstract

From March 2001 to December 2002, we studied the reproductive phenology, pollination ecology, and growth rates of Espeletia grandiflora Humb. and Bonpl. (Asteraceae), a giant caulescent rosette from the Páramos of the Eastern Andes of Colombia. Espeletia grandiflora was found to be predominantly allogamous and strongly self-incompatible. Bumblebees (Bombus rubicundus and B. funebris) were the major pollinators of E. grandiflora, although moths, hummingbirds, flies, and beetles also visited flowers. Inflorescence development began in March and continued through August to September. Plants flowered for 30 - 96 days with a peak from the beginning of October through November. The percentage of flowering plants strongly differed among size classes and between both years. Seed dispersal occurred as early as September through May of the following year. The average absolute growth rate for juveniles and adults rate was 7.6 cm/year. Given the scarcity of floral visitors at high altitudes due to climatic conditions, we suggest that even small contributions from a wide range of pollinators might be advantageous for pollination of E. grandiflora. Long-term studies on different populations of E. grandiflora are required to determine if the high growth rates are representative, to quantify the variation in the flowering behavior within and among populations, and to establish if nocturnal pollination is a trait that is exclusive to our population of E. grandiflora.

Key words

Asteraceae - Espeletia grandiflora - Colombia - reproductive phenology - pollination - growth rates - Páramo - bumblebees.

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V. H. Gonzalez

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Kansas

Snow Hall, 1460 Jayhawk Blvd

Lawrence, KS 66045

USA

Email: vhgonza@ku.edu

Editor: M. Ayasse