Distyly is a type of reproductive system whose morphological and physiological features are used as a mechanism for increasing the xenogamy. Among the 25 Angiosperm families presenting this system, Rubiaceae is the richest. The objective of this study was to characterize the distylous system of four Palicourea species from the Cerrado of Central Brazil, Palicourea marcgravii A. St.-Hil., P. officinalis Mart., P. coriacea (Cham.) K. Schum. e P. macrobotrys (Ruiz & Pav.) Roem. & Schult. This study took place in the following areas of Distrito Federal: Parque Nacional de Brasília, Estação Ecológica de Águas Emendadas e Reseva Ecológica do IBGE. The species Palicourea marcgravii and P. officinalis were typicall distylous due to the presence of two floral morphs, the in ratio, and also the self and intramorph incompatibility. However, P. coriacea and P. macrobotrys species were variants because homostylous individuals occur together with distylous morphs in first specie, and because the homostyle morph is dominant in the second. It is still unknown which evolutional drivers determine those differences. However, it is likely that intrinsic genetics characteristics of each taxon have a considerable influence, and also that species may respond differently to the same selective pressures, or they may not present any response.
floral morphometric; heterostyly; isoplethy; pollination; reproductive biology
