The reproductive biology of five sympatric species of Malpighiaceae was studied in the coastal dunes of the Abaeté Environmental Protection area, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil (12º56’ S and 38º20’ W) from Jul./2000 to Jan./2002, and from Jan. to Mar./2003. Flowering phenology, morphology and floral biology were studied and floral visitors were observed. The breeding system was verified through experimental pollinations in the field. The Malpighiaceae are hermaphrodite, have diurnal anthesis and high pollen viability. The flowering presented a continuous pattern in the community. The controlled hand pollinations showed that Heteropterys alternifolia and Byrsonima spp. are self-incompatible, while Stigmaphyllon paralias is self-compatible. The main pollinators observed were bees of the tribe Centridini and the main resource collected was oil. Bees using jaws to hold themselves to the guide petal were rarely observed during oil collecting.
breeding system; Centridini; coastal dunes; Malpighiaceae; oil flower
