Abstract

ZAPATER, María A.; AQUINO, Víctor H.; CASTILLO, Elvio M. Del  and  LOZANO, Evangelina C.. Contributions to the morphology, reproduction and ecology of Loxopterygium grisebachii (Anacardiaceae). Caldasia [online]. 2020, vol.42, n.2, pp.250-262. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v42n2.81105.

Loxopterygium grisebachii (Anacardiaceae) is a South American species endemic to Argentina and Bolivia rated on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable. It is characteristic of the mountain Chaco and the Yungas Pedemontana Forest and, from the biogeographic point of view, it is an important constituent of the Neotropical Seasonal Tropical Dry Forests in the Piedemonte Cores. Due to the importance of the species, it is notorious that taxonomic works are incomplete, the sexual system is not well defined, there are no references on reproductive topics, and there are inconsistencies regarding distribution data and ecological characteristics, which do not allow actions to protect their populations. The objective was to expand the macro and micro-morphological knowledge, to know reproductive aspects such as sexual system, reproductive system, reproductive success, and to know better its distribution and ecology. Private and public herbaria collections and type specimens were studied. The morphological study used traditional techniques. To study the reproductive and sexual system, experiences were carried out in a population of La Viña (Salta, Argentina) in 2017 and 2018. Several macro and micro-morphological aspects were studied. The greatest reproductive success occurred with free pollination although with low values; the pollen/ovule ratio indicated self-incompatibility and forced xenogamy. The individuals are dioecious and polygamous monoecious. The distribution areas are threatened and there the species acts as a pioneer colonizer of eroded and unstable calcareous rocky substrates playing an important role in environmental protection.

Keywords : Distribution; Loxopterygium; reproductive system; reproductive success; sexual system.

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