Reproductive biology and phenology of Dyckia erectiflora (L.B.Sm.) Forzza (Bromeliaceae): An endemic bromeliad from rocky outcrops of the Northeastern Brazilian Cerrado

The reproductive success of rupicolous bromeliads in the Cerrado depends on climatic conditions and pollinators availability. This study analyzed the phenology and reproductive biology of Dyckia erectiflora (L.B.Sm.) Forzza, an endemic rupicolous bromeliad from Northeastern Brazilian Cerrado. Reproductive phenophases were monitored for two consecutive years in Sete Cidades National Park, Piauí, Brazil. The floral biology and pollination system of the species were evaluated. Flowering and fruiting were seasonal, with delays observed in the second year of the study. Flowering did not correlate with rainfall, occurring during the transition from the rainy to the dry season, while fruiting occurred during the dry season. Seed dispersal, which is anemochoric, ceases at the end of the dry season, facilitating germination in the early rainy months. Flowers exhibit a brief temporal and spatial separation at the beginning of the maturation of the reproductive whorls. The anthesis begins in the late afternoon, with the partial exposure of the receptive stigma, although floral resources such as pollen and nectar are available the following day. The pollination system is melittophilous by exotic bees, rare for the ornithophilous genus. The absence of native vertebrate pollinators raises concerns about the anthropogenic impact on the species' pollination efficiency.