Reproductive biology of two Brazilian Liparis (Orchidaceae)

• Grant number: 18/13471-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Emerson Ricardo Pansarin
• Grantee: Samantha Gaspar Augusto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Liparis comprises ca. 320 species distributed mainly throughout the tropical and subtropical regions. Practically nothing is known about the reproductive biology of this species-rich genus. Six species of Liparis are found in Brazil, and data about reproductive biology of Brazilian taxa are absent. For this study were selected two sympatric species: Liparis nervosa, which occurs inside the forest, and Liparis sp, a paludal and cryptic species, closely related to L. nervosa. Based on plants collected in the study area, this project aims to study the reproductive biology of both sympatric species. Studies on floral morphology, floral fragrances will be performed. Furthermore, the offering of rewards to pollinators, the pollination mechanisms, and the breeding systems also will be studied. The data recorded will be contribute for the understanding on the reproductive biology of Liparis, a genus whose conclusive data about the biology of species are still unknown. In addition, this study will contribute to the understanding of the cryptic speciation in Liparis.