An explosion of perfume: Mass flowering and sphingophily in the Caatinga dry region in Brazil. Issue 3 (27th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albuquerque‐Lima, Sinzinando; Domingos‐Melo, Arthur; Nadia, Tarcila C. L.; Bezerra, Elisângela L. S.; Navarro, Daniela M. A. F.; Milet‐Pinheiro, Paulo; Machado, Isabel C.
• Is Part Of: Plant species biology. Volume 35:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 255
• Publication Date: 2020-05-27
• Subjects: big‐bang flowering -- floral scent -- Griffinia -- hawkmoths -- pollination; Plants -- Evolution -- Periodicals; Plants -- Classification -- Periodicals; 581
• DOI: 10.1111/1442-1984.12277
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0913-557X

Abstract

Abstract: 'Big Bang' flowering is common among geophyte plants and is a strategy particularly important in arid areas. Griffinia is a genus whose species have very ephemeral flowering. Not surprisingly, there is so far no information on the reproductive biology and pollination ecology of any Griffinia species. Here, we highlight an amazing phenomenon of massive flowering in Griffinia gardneriana, a species that blooms for only one or two nights and emits a remarkable odor plume in the Caatinga night. The flowering event of the species varied depending on the locality, but it was always associated with the rainy season. The high number of white tubular flowers produce a strong sweet perfume dominated by ( E )‐nerolidol (42%), linalool (33%) and ( E )‐β‐ocimene (15%). Agrius cingulata (Sphingidae) was the only pollinator recorded. Because G. gardneriana set only a few fruits by self‐pollination, in contrast to a high number of fruits under natural conditions, this hawkmoth pollination system seems to be very efficient. Abstract : Griffinia gardneriana is a species that bloom for only one or two nights and the high number of white tubular flowers produce a strong sweet perfume dominated by (E)‐nerolidol (42%), linalool (33%) and (E)‐β‐ocimene (15%). Agrius cingulata (Sphingidae) was the only pollinator recorded.