BEETLE POLLINATION OF CYCLANTHUS BIPARTITUS (CYCLANTHACEAE)

The morphology, inflorescence phenology, and insect visitors of Cyclanthus were observed during two reproductive seasons at Finca La Selva in the Atlantic lowlands of Costa Rica. The inflorescence of Cyclanthus is an elongate spadix that is subtended and enclosed by four large, cymbiform bracts. Staminate and pistillate flowers are arranged in separate cycles along the length of the spadix and show marked dichogamy. Pollinators of Cyclanthus are beetles of the genus Cyclocephala (Scarabaeidae). The beetles arrive at the inflorescence while it is in the pistillate phase, during the first evening of the 2-day flowering period. They remain in the inflorescence for 24 hrs, until the end of staminate anthesis. The bracts of the inflorescence produce specialized tissue that the beetles consume along with pollen. Chemical analysis of the food tissue indicates that it is almost 50% lipid by dry weight. The scarabs use the inflorescence as an aggregation site for mating. Experiments with bagged inflorescences showed that no seeds are produced in the absence of pollinators, which suggests that Cyclanthus is obligately allogamous.