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Scientific
Eduandrea selloana: Field Notes on a New
Area 01Occurrence.
Elidio Armando Exposto Guarçoni & Cláudio Coelho de
Paula
Figure 1. Mata de Galeria-Mutuca river,withEduandrea selloana populationon the right
margin.
The state of Minas Gerais, in the southeast region of Brazil, indudes 265 species
and 27 genera (Versieux and Wendt 2005). Among these, Eduandreaselloana(Baker)
Leme, W Till, G.K. Brown, J.R. Grant & R. Govaerts deserves special attention be-
cause it is cited in the Rcview if the Brazilian Flora List Threatened by Extinction as vul-
nerable (VU), caused by the reduction of the population size, habitat fragmentation
and geographic distribution severely fragmented and known by few locations (www.
biodiversitas.org.br). In the red tist of endangered species of Minas Gerais' flora fac-
ing extinction (Mendonça and Lins 2000), Eduandreaselloanais cited by its synonymy,
Nidulariumselloanum(Baker)E.Pereira & Leme, asendangered. (Brown and Leme 2005)
consider it dose to extinction.
JBS 58(2). 2008 65
Scientific Eduandrea sel/oana:Field Notes
Figure2. Eduandreaseltoana characteristics.
Eduandrea selloanacan be characterized by its terrestrial habit, thick rhizome with
an abundant root system; abaxial surface of the leaf, scape and primary bract covered
with a thick layer of white tricome in contrast with the glabrous adaxial surface, green
leaves and blades with entire foliar margins; well elevated inflorescence above the fo-
liar rosette, with narrow primary bracts that don't form outlying or central tanks and
without the capacity of storing water; rachis partially visible in the basal portion of
the inflorescence because of the fascicule separation; biporate and supoliporate pollen
with reticule exine, and subglobose fruit bigger than the ovaries, green with persistent
chalice (Brown & Leme, 2005) (Figure 2).
Eduandreaselloanais an endemic species of Espinhaço range, growing exclusively
in riparian forest of the state of :MinasGerais (figure 1). Despite the citations of oc-
currence in Ouro Preto and Antônio Pereira, even recently, its populations could only
be found in Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó (National Parque of Serra do Cipó), in
populations considered residual, according to (Leme 1998). From 1988 new collection
of E. selloanawere accomplished in Santana do Riacho and Palácios' region (Serra do
Cipó). In 2001, well conserved populations were located in Parque Natural do Caraça
(Caraça Natural Park) (Brown & Leme, 2005).
In 2006 Eduandrea selloanawas located in State Park of Serra do Rola-Moça (pESRM)
in a special protection area of Mutuca (APE-Mutuca). PESRlvI is located in the Cadeia
66 JBS 58(2). 2008
Scientific Eduandrea selloana:Field Notes
Figure 3. The habit of Eduandrea sel/oana in the Mutuca river.
do Espinhaço, in the "Quadrilátero Ferrífero", an area considered of extreme biological
importance in the Atlas Revision of Priority Areas for the biodiversity conservation of
Minas Gerais State (Fundação Biodiversitas.htm - www:biodiversitas.org.br). Created
by the Decree 36.071 of 27 of September, 1994, the PESRM is situated in the county
of Belo Horizonte, Brumadinho, lbirité and Nova Lima, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil,
with an area of 394,109 ha. (Vicent, 1994).
The APE-Mutuca, is located in the municipal district of Nova Lima, MG, in the
coordinates 43° 58' W and 20° 02' 30"S, with maximum altitude of 1,448m and an
area of 1,250 ha. According to Kõppen's dassification its climate is mesothermal,
also denominated subtropical of altitude (Cwb), with fresh summers and well defined
dry season; the medium precipitation is of 1400 mm/year, being the trimester of
December-February responsible for more than 50% of the annual total. lts vegetation
is represented by Campo Rupestre Ferruginoso, Cerrado and Mata de Galeria, in fiat
mountains, low waves and strongly waved.
According to field's observations, the population of Eduandreasel/oanain APE-
Mutuca is found well conserved, presenting 404 individuals in an area of about 2km,
along the Mutuca river, between 1,045-1 and 1,153m altitude. This species is intimately
associated to humid environments, locating itself in the medium region of the ravine
along the Mutuca river, in day soil (Figure 3). Brown & Leme (2005) report that E.
sel/oanaoccurs in white quartzite sand, frequently among rocks.
JBS 58(2). 2008 67
Scientific Eduandrea sel/oana:Field Notes
Figure 4. Vegetative reproduction showing Figure 5. The fruit of Eduandrea selloana
the sub-erect clone air and clone from the showing the effect of herbivory.
underground rhizome.
Related to its reproduction type, it is possible to observe one or two ramets per
rosette. Propagation is also common by the formation of rosettes from the underground
thick rhizome (Figure 4). Inflorescences in the studied population have 44 flowers on
average. The flowering period varies from October to January. Its fruits contain 100-269
seeds. Many fruit present indications of herbivory (figure 5) probably caused by the
beetle Conotrachelussp. (Família Curculionidae) found in some inflorescences.
During the study Euglosideae bees were observed on the E. sel/oanaflowers. The
bees developed a high level of specificity related to particular types of flowers. The
flowers that co-evolved with the bees have outstanding and shiny blue petals, present-
ing special structures indicative of the position of the nectar, as can be observed in
A. sel/oana(Figure 7). These flowers also have as characteristic a type of platform for
the insect's landing.
Neither germinating seeds nor seedlings were observed in the field, however ger-
mination tests conducted in the Bromeliaceae Research and Conservation Unit (UPCB)
, of Viçosa Federal University indicated high germination viability. It was also tested
the cultivation from adult individuals verifying The development of four to five dones
per adult rosette was also observed in cultivation tests. These tests show the viability
68 JBS 58(2). 2008
Scientific Edllafldrea selloafla:Field Notes ,
i<i.I
.
..
~
,,,\
Figure 7. Theflower of Eduandreaselloana:
Figure 6.The cultivationof Edundrea sello- blue petals as forming a platform for in-
ana from the seeds in the Bromeliaceae sect's landing.Observe the conjugation of
Research and ConservationUnit(UPCB)of the stamen, favorable forthe introduction
Viçosa Federal University(UFV). of bee's trombócide.
of cultivation of E. selloana,necessary for its ex-situand also in-situconservation.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Instituto Estadual de Florestas (State institute of Forest)
(license 002/06 e 004/06) and COPASA. Also thank Viçosa Federal University (UFV)
and Unidade de Pesquisa e Conservação de Bromeliaceae (Bromeliaceae Research and
Conservation Unit) (UPCB) for the logistic and structural support.
The first author specially thanks the Secretaria Estadual de Educação de Minas
Gerais (General office of State Education of Minas Gerais) for the conceived license
to attend the Master study course in Botanic.
Literature Cited
Brown, G. K. and E. M. C. Leme (2005). "The re-establishment of Andrea (Bro-
meliaceae: Bromelioideae), a monotypic genus from Southeastern Brazil threatened
with extinction." Taxon 54(1): 63-70.
Leme, E. M. C. (1998). Canistropsis-Bromeliadsof theAtlanticForest.Rio deJaniero,
Salamandra.
Mendonça, M. P. and L. Lins (2000). Lista vermelhadasespéciesameaçadasdeextinção
da flora deMinas Gerais.,Fundação Biodiversitas, Fundação Zôo-Botânica de Belo
Horizonte.
Versieux, L. M. and T. Wendt (2005). "Bromeliaceae diversity and conservation
in Minas Gerais state, Brazil." Biodivers.Consem 16(11): 2989-3009.
JBS 58(2). 2008 69
