Pollination biology of Symphonia globulifera (Clusiaceae)

The pollination biology of Symphonia globulifera was studied in Central Amazonia, Brazil. As suggested by the bird syndrome of the flowers, these are mainly pollinated by hummingbirds. Occasional visits by other birds, butterflies and more rarely bees, as well as tamarin monkeys were also observed. Trigona bees partly destroy the flower tube to rob nectar. The possibility that S. globulifera may not be primarily adapted to hummingbird pollination is discussed. The pollen is intermixed in an oily fluid secreted by the anthers (antheroil). Each of the five stigmas consists of a pore-like opening at the apex and a small chamber behind it. The antheroil mixed with pollen is absorbed by capillarity into the chamber when deposited on the pore. The pollen germinates inside the stigma. The presence of antheroil and pore-like stigmas in the flowers of the closely related Platonia insignis indicate a similar mode of pollination. The results of this study are compared with observations in some other Clusiaceae (Caraipa, Clusia, Garcinia, Mahurea), where floral oils or floral resin occur. The role of these substances in the pollination process and their relation to the evolution of flower biology in Clusiaceae are briefly discussed.2004167110111

Four new species of Dichorisandra JC Mikan (Commelinaceae) from Southeast Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Based on studies of plants in the field, herbarium, and in cultivation, four new species of Dichorisandra J.C. Mikan are here described. Two of them were collected in Carangola, State of Minas Gerais: Dichorisandra leonii Aona & M.C.E. Amaral, which is similar to D. thyrsiflora J.C. Mikan due to the habit and the position of the anthers in the flower, but differs by the pubescent indument on leaves and stems, and Dichorisandra rupicola Aona & M.C.E. Amaral, growing on rocky outcrops and characterized by its purplish to pinkish anthers, dehiscing by only one pore. The other two species were collected in Espirito Santo State: Dichorisandra velutina Aona & M.C.E. Amaral can be characterized by its velutinous indument on stem, leaf sheath, both faces of the leaf lamina and sepals and by its broad-ellipsoid anthers with truncate apex. Dichorisandra nutabilis Aona & M.C.E. Amaral is similar to D. penduliflora Kunth due to the pendulous inflorescence, but differs by the presence of six stamens with anthers dehiscing by only one pore, while the flowers of D. penduliflora have five stamens with rimose anthers. Illustrations of the species, comparisons with similar species and discussions about diagnostic characters and conservation status of the new species are presented.48722Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao Botanica Margaret Mee at the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [03/06634-0

Menarche among Brazilian women: memories of experiences

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Objective: to present women's experiences of menarche and related memories. Design: qualitative study using focus groups for data collection. Setting: the city of Campinas, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Participants: 64 women aged 21-51 years, experiencing menstrual periods, with former or current sexual activity and no perceived infertility. Methods: eight focus groups were carried out using a semi-structured guideline. Discussions were recorded with participants' consent, and transcribed and revised. Thematic content analysis was carried out using gender relations as the theoretical framework. Findings: menarche was experienced as a passage from childhood to womanhood, associated with belonging to a new group and acquiring a new status in the family. The experiences of menarche were not always welcomed or expected, but were recalled as associated with body changes and awareness of sexual issues. The mother's behaviour and attitudes towards menarche were clearly seen as generators of strong and everlasting impressions, either in a positive or negative way. Memories related to the experience of menarche extended through their life, interfering with their relation with their own body, including their reproductive health. Key conclusions: the way in which menarche is experienced may exert an impact on women's reproductive health, sexuality and lifestyle behaviours. Implications for practice: the acknowledgement of menarche experiences can be useful to guide healthcare providers towards more effective education of girls on sexual and reproductive health issues and better attention to women's needs. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.272203208Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAEPEX/UnicampFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Menstruation and amenorrhea: opinion of Brazilian women

Contemporary women experience more menstrual cycles than their predecessors, and their menstrual patterns are modified by contraceptives. Amenorrhea is one side effect that has recently been advocated as desirable. This qualitative study investigated Brazilian women's views regarding the suppression of menstruation using hormones. Data were collected through eight focus groups, following a semistructured guideline. Sixty-four women, 21-51 years old, all menstruating regularly and all of whom had already initiated sexual activity and had no perceived infertility participated. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and entered into the computer, using the Ethnograph V 5.0 software to aggregate similar patterns. Thematic content analysis revealed that menstruation and amenorrhea were both seen with ambiguity. Although regarded as a nuisance, menstruation was associated with femaleness, youth, fertility and health. Most women, although they would like to be free from menstruation, feared negative consequences of induced amenorrhea and even regarded the proposition as a male intrusion into what they consider a natural female condition. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.72215716

Floral resin of Tovomitopsis saldanhae (Guttiferae) and 7-epi-nemorosone: Structural revision

The floral resin of Tovomitopsis saldanhae (Guttiferae) is composed of poliisoprenylated benzophenone and the major constituent is 7-epi-nemorosone which has now been revised.584192164364

The fragrant floral oils of Tovomita species

The filaments of the stamens of flowers of the dioecious genus Tovomita produce droplets of fragrant oils. In T. macrophylla it was observed that the oil is collected by male euglossine bees acting as pollinators. The bees settle down on the anthers of the male flowers and the stigmas of the female flowers respectively to collect the oil with their forebarsitarsi. The oil analyses of four species from the Reserva Ducke (Manaus, Central Amazonia) were investigated revealing that the composition is different for all four species, possibly to attract selectively different euglossine species and avoid interspecific cross-pollination. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.4941009101

Sexual mimicry in Mormolyca ringens (Lindl.) Schltr. (Orchidaceae : Maxillariinae)

Background and Aims Pollination through sexual mimicry, also known as pseudocopulation, has been suggested to occur ill some genera of the Neotropical orchid subtribe Maxillariinae. However, it has been demonstrated so far only for Trigonidium obtusum. This study reports and illustrates pollination through sexual mimicry in Mormolyca ringens. Methods A total of 70 h were dedicated to the observation of flowers and pollinator behaviour, which was photographically recorded. Flower features involved in pollinator attraction were studied using a stereo-microscope and by SEM analyses. Preliminary observations on the plant breeding system were made by manually self-pollinating flowers. The chemical composition of the fragrance volatiles was determined by GC/MS analysis. Key Results The flower features of M. ringens parallel those of other psuedocopulatory flowers. The labellum shape and indument are reminiscent of all insect. Sexually excited drones of Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Scaptotrigona sp. (both in the Apidae: Meliponini) attempt copulation with the labellum and pollinate the flower in the process. In both bee species, the pollinarium is attached to the scutellum. Pollinator behaviour may promote some degree of self-pollination, but preliminary observations indicate that M. ringens flowers are self-incompatible. Flowers are produced all the year round, which ties in with the production of bee males several times a year. The phylogenetic relationships of M. ringens are discussed and a number of morphological and phenological features supporting them are reported. Conclusions It is expected that further research could bring to light whether other Maxillariinae species are also pollinated through sexual mimicry. When a definitive and robust phylogeny of this subtribe is available, it should be possible to determine how many times pseudocopulation evolved and its possible evolutionary history. (C) 2004 Annals of Botany Company.93675576

Pollinator attraction devices (floral fragrances) of some Brazilian orchids

The floral fragrances of six orchids (Stanhopea lietzeii Frost ex Hooker, S. Insignis Frost ex Hooker, Polystachya estrellensis Hook. Psilochilus modestus Barb. Rodr., Epidendrum secundum L and E. paniculatum) from the Atlantic rain forest were investigated, attempting to link the floral fragrance composition to the rewards (pollen, nectar, pseudopollen and fragrant oil). From this evaluation we conclude that in most pollinations, the attraction could not be assigned to one compound or class of compounds but to the "bouquet" that is an ensemble of compounds belonging to different compound classes.610311