Reproductive biology of Jacarada ulei Bureau & K. Schum. (Bignoniaceae)

Abstract

Phenological events and floral biology of Jacaranda ulei were studied. After the first rains, new branches, leaves and flowers are produced. The flowering period lasts for 40 almost three months; a great amount of flowers is produced; nectar is abundant. It was identified 15 species of bees visiting the plant, also ants, butterflies and hummingbirds. The flowers, fruits and seeds suffered from predatism and fungus attack, but the leaves remained intact. The species is strongly selfincompatible, 30% of the flowers from manually crossed pollination developed into fruits against only 10% of the naturally pollinated ones. The necessity of having compatible individuals should be taken into consideration for cultivating this plant in gardens or herbalists.