Nectar Secretion Pattern and Removal Effects in Six Argentinean Pitcairnioideae (Bromeliaceae)

Abstract

Abstract Nectar secretion pattern and effects of nectar removal were analyzed in six hummingbird‐pollinated Argentinean Pitcairnioideae: Abromeitiella brevifolia. A. lorentziana, Deuterocohnia longipetala. Dyckia floribunda, D. ragonesei and Puya spathacea . Flower lifetime was determined in each case. Nectar volume, concentration and sugar production were measured from bud opening till fading of flowers at different time intervals according to the species' flower life‐span. Nectar volume varies while nectar concentration and cumulative sugar production increase as a function of flower age in all the studied species. In general, total nectar volume and concentration values can be affected by periodic removal, but total sugar production is unaffected. Only in Puya spathacea did periodic nectar harvesting reduce the total amount of sugar produced.