Abstract
Encyclia is a neotropical orchid genus distributed from Florida to South Brazil and comprises ~120 taxa, including Encyclia mapuerae (Huber) Brade & Pabst. Besides its diversity and wide distribution, conclusive data on pollinators and reproductive biology of this orchid genus is scarce. Furthermore, nothing is known about the production of floral reward in Encyclia but the pollinators of their species are assumed to be attracted through food deception. Based on data on phenology, floral morpho-anatomy, histochemistry, pollinators, pollination mechanisms, and breeding system, the reproductive biology of E. mapuerae was studied in a nature reserve at Central Amazonia, Brazil. The flowers of E. mapuerae show longitudinal lines on the labellum that act as a nectar guide. The secretory epidermis has papillae whose cells are covered by an ornamented cuticle. The subtended tissue is composed of a tree-layered collenchyma. The flowers attract several species of Hymenoptera. However, a single species of Centris was recorded as pollinator. The bees collect the nectar produced inside the cuniculus. When the bees leave the flower the pollinarium is attached to their heads. Encyclia mapuerae is self-compatible and pollinator-dependent. The reproductive success in natural conditions is low because of deficient pollen transference due to the scarcity of pollinators. As far we know this is the first study that reports and production of floral reward in Encyclia. This discovery provides new insights on the function of the cuniculus in Laeliinae, and sheds light on the evolution of floral rewards and pollination mechanisms within this diverse group of Neotropical orchids.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Flowers have labellum lines that act as nectar guides.
- Taxon
- E. mapuerae
Encyclia mapueraee0 - Organ / stage
- flowerse0
- Outcome
- longitudinal lines on the labellum that act as a nectar guidee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The flowers of E. mapuerae show longitudinal lines on the labellum that act as a nectar guide.”
Claim · model-written summary
The secretory epidermis has papillae with ornamented cuticles.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Outcome
- papillae whose cells are covered by an ornamented cuticlee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The secretory epidermis has papillae whose cells are covered by an ornamented cuticle.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”
Claim · model-written summary
The tissue beneath the secretory epidermis is three layered collenchyma.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Outcome
- tree-layered collenchymae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The subtended tissue is composed of a tree-layered collenchyma.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”
Claim · model-written summary
The flowers attract several Hymenoptera species.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Interactor
- HymenopteraHymenopterae0pollinator
- Outcome
- attract several species of Hymenopterae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The flowers attract several species of Hymenoptera.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”
Claim · model-written summary
Only one Centris species was recorded pollinating the orchid.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Outcome
- a single species of Centris was recorded as pollinatore0
CentrisOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“However, a single species of Centris was recorded as pollinator.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”
Claim · model-written summary
Bees collect nectar from inside the cuniculus.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Interactor
- beesAnthophilae0pollinator
- Outcome
- nectar produced inside the cuniculuse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The bees collect the nectar produced inside the cuniculus.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”
Claim · model-written summary
Pollinaria attach to bees heads when the bees leave flowers.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Interactor
- beesAnthophilae0pollinator
- Outcome
- pollinarium is attached to their headse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“When the bees leave the flower the pollinarium is attached to their heads.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”
Claim · model-written summary
The orchid is self compatible.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraee0
- Outcome
- self-compatiblee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Encyclia mapuerae is self-compatible and pollinator-dependent.”
Claim · model-written summary
The orchid depends on pollinators.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraee0
- Outcome
- pollinator-dependente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Encyclia mapuerae is self-compatible and pollinator-dependent.”
Claim · model-written summary
Natural reproductive success is low, attributed to scarce pollinators and deficient pollen transfer.
- Taxon
- Encyclia mapueraeEncyclia mapueraet0
- Outcome
- reproductive success in natural conditionse0
- Direction
- lowe0
- Qualifier
- deficient pollen transference due to the scarcity of pollinatorse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The reproductive success in natural conditions is low because of deficient pollen transference due to the scarcity of pollinators.”
t0“Encyclia mapuerae”