Resumen

OSSA, CARMEN G  y  MEDEL, RODRIGO. Notes on the floral biology and pollination syndrome of Echinopsis chiloensis (Colla) Friedrich & G.D.Rowley (Cactaceae) in a population of semiarid Chile. Gayana Bot. [online]. 2011, vol.68, n.2, pp. 213-219. ISSN 0717-6643.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-66432011000200012.

We report some aspects of the floral biology ofEchinopsis chiloensis ssp. chiloensis in a population near to the northern limit of its distribution. Anthesis is strictly diurnal and flowers remain open during 492 min on the average. Echinopsis chiloensis is self-incompatible. Flower longevity, nectar production along day, and floral visitors indicate that this population fits well to a diurnal insect pollination syndrome. These results contrast with a previous report indicating nocturnal anthesis and mixed mellitophylous-sphingophylous pollination syndrome in populations near to the southern limit of the distribution range. We suggest that the pollination syndrome of E. chiloensis is a labile rather than fixed condition that may depend on the abiotic characteristics and geographical location of the population under assessment.

Palabras clave : Flower longevity; nectar production; pollination syndrome; flower adaptation.