CONTRASTING BREEDING SYSTEMS IN 2 ERIOTHECA (BOMBACACEAE) SPECIES OF THE BRAZILIAN CERRADOS

The pollination biology and breeding systems of Eriotheca pubescens an d E. gracilipes have been studied. These two species occur as trees in cerrado vegetation, the neotropical savannas of Central Brazil, with partially sympatric distributions. They have similar phenology and flo ral structure, although the flowers of E. pubescens are larger. Both s pecies have nectar flowers pollinated by large Anthophoridae bees but the main pollinators of each species differ in size. The species have markedly different breeding systems: late-acting self-incompatibility in E. gracilipes and apomixis stimulated by pollination in E. pubescen s.