ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess

Abstract Number: 6179
Poster No. = 2571


THE SWEET JELLY OF COMBRETUM LANCEOLATUM AS A REWARED FOR BIRDS


M. Sazima 1, S. Vogel2, A. L. Prado3, D. M. Oliveira+, G. Franz4 and I. Sazima1, 1Dept. And Zool. C. P. 6109, Unicamp, 13083-970, Campinas, Brasil 2Botan. Inst. Universität Wien, A-1030, Wein, Austria 3Dept. Bot. Ecol., UFMT, 78060-900 Cuiaba, Brasil 4Pharm. Inst. Universitat Regensburg D-93040, Germany


We studied he pollination biology of Combretum lanceolatum in the Pantanal wetlands in western Brazil. The shrubs bloom in the big bang" mode, and the inflorescences are spikes with 50 or more flowers. The yellowish-green flowers are arranged in brushlike units. Instead of nectar the flowers produce a sweet jelly, mainly composed of glucose and fructose, and mannan, a polysaccharid responsible for the glelatinization. This jelly attracts 27 species of perching birds, which feed on it and pollinate the flowers. The most effective pollinators are thrushes, tanagers, and orioles. FAPESP/CNPq/FAEP - Unicamp.

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