Reproductive phenology, pollination and reproductive system of Sophora tomentosa L. (Leguminosae – Papilionoideae) on coastal sand dunes of Joaquina beach, Florianópolis, southern Brazil

Abstract

The shrub Sophora tomentosa flowers from the month of October to June. The fructification begins soon after the start of the flowering period and continues up to the next flowering. The anthesis takes place during the day, and does not have a defined schedule for the opening of the flower. Each inflorescence opens from 2 to 5 new flowers a day, lasting 4 or 5 days. Sophora tomentosa presents a rate of open pollination of 78%, cross pollination of 70%, spontaneous self-pollination of 48%, and agamospermy of 18%. Among the species of bees that visit S. tomentosa flowers, Pseudocentron sp. (Megachilidae) presents the characteristics of an efficient pollinator. The bees Xylocopa (Megaxylocopa) brasilionorum and Dialictus (Chloralictus) sp. can also make the pollination. Epicharis sp. (Antophoridae) and Augochloropsis sp. (Halictidae) are visitors, which are only rarely observed in S. tomentosa. Other floral visitors are the butterfly Panoquina panoquinoides eugeon (Hesperiidae), the beetles Lystronychus sp. (Alleculidae) and Horistonotus sp. (Elateridae), and the ant Camponotus rufipes (Formicidae). Lystronychus sp. and Camponotus rufipes can promote self-pollination.

Keywords

• Sophora tomentosa
• reproductive system
• pollination
• melittophily