No abstract

Im Rahmen einer Studie an gynäkologischen Patientinnen wurden 336 Frauen untersucht. Die Patientinnen wurden mittels eines ausführlichen, strukturierten, biografischen Interviews und unterschiedlichen Fragenbogeninventars untersucht. Bei beidem ging es inhaltlich vor allem um die Themen: Beziehung, Liebe und Sexualität. Fragestellung: Dabei ging es um die Frage eines möglichen Zusammenhanges zwischen gynäkologischen und sexuellen Problemen. Ergebnisse: Das sicherlich bereicherndste Material, das wir dabei erhielten, waren die Lebensgeschichten, die die Frauen selbst erzählten. Zudem fanden wir heraus, dass 30% der Patientinnen unter unterschiedlichsten sexuellen Problemen litten. Ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen speziellen gynäkologischen und speziellen sexuellen Problemen lieû sich nicht nachweisen. Gleichwohl hatten Frauen mit chronischen Unterleibsschmerzen, Endometriose und Adhäsionen besonders viele sexuelle Schwierigkeiten. Ebenso litten Patientinnen mit Problemen während der Schwangerschaft gehäuft unter Sexualproblemen. Die Frauen, die sexuelle Gewalt erlitten hatten, klagten doppelt so häufig wie andere über sexuelle Schwierigkeiten. Ein hochsignifikantes Ergebnis war, dass die Frauen, die sowohl unter gynäkologischen als auch unter sexuellen Problemen litten, viel häufiger auch psychosomatisch erkrankt waren. An psychosomatischen Beschwerden gaben sie Magen-Darm-, Angst-, depressive, Ess-, Körperbild-und Schlafstörungen an. Schlussfolgerung: Es ist dringend notwendig, im Rahmen von gynäkologischer Diagnostik und Therapie über Sexualität zu sprechen.

O presente trabalho descreve a biologia floral e a polinização de Camaridium ochroleucum Lindl. Ocorre como epífita em árvores e troncos caídos na campina aberta e na campinarana formando grandes aglomerados de indivíduos, todavia indivíduos isolados também podem ser observados. Possui grande quantidade de osmóforos localizados no labelo. Com o hidróxido de amônio o labelo adquiriu intensa coloração amarela. Melipona illustris e Trigona fulviventris são os visitantes florais capazes de remover as políneas. Dependendo do local que o polinário fica depositado estas espécies são capazes de removê-las durante a limpeza corporal. Pilhadores de pólen também foram observados, tais como, Tetragona handlirschii e Apidae 1. A espécie demonstrou-se autoincompatível e possui baixa taxa de frutificação em meio natural.

Most Asteraceae species are pollinated by insects, mainly bees and butterflies, although pollination by birds has been documented and pollination by bats has been suggested for some species. Here, we investigated the pollination of Gongylolepis martiana, a species supposedly pollinated by bats. We assessed floral traits and visitors in a population of G. martiana in the Brazilian Amazon, measuring pollen removal from anthers and deposition on stigmas by diurnal and nocturnal visitors. Florets opened at dusk and lasted for 4 days, with the male phase starting on the first night and the female phase on the third night. Accumulated nectar per capitulum was 69.6 μl per night and sugar concentration was 15%. Nectar‐feeding bats and hummingbirds contacted the sexual parts, but pollen removal and deposition were greater throughout the night than during the day, when Meliponini bees considerably reduced pollen availability. Other nocturnal visitors of G. martiana were rare, including nocturnal bees and moths that foraged for pollen and nectar, respectively. Our results support that nectarivorous bats are the main pollinators of G. martiana, confirming Vogel’s hypothesis of bat pollination in Asteraceae, particularly in the genus Gongylolepis. Since anthesis and each sexual floral phase started in the evening, nectarivorous bats and diurnal bees caused additive priority effects, preventing hummingbirds from being efficient pollinators. The high density of flowering individuals of G. martiana in patches from white‐sand forests likely increases bat attraction, while the small amount of nectar per plant favours cross‐pollination.

Encyclia is a neotropical orchid genus distributed from Florida to South Brazil and comprises ~120 taxa, including Encyclia mapuerae (Huber) Brade & Pabst. Besides its diversity and wide distribution, conclusive data on pollinators and reproductive biology of this orchid genus is scarce. Furthermore, nothing is known about the production of floral reward in Encyclia but the pollinators of their species are assumed to be attracted through food deception. Based on data on phenology, floral morpho-anatomy, histochemistry, pollinators, pollination mechanisms, and breeding system, the reproductive biology of E. mapuerae was studied in a nature reserve at Central Amazonia, Brazil. The flowers of E. mapuerae show longitudinal lines on the labellum that act as a nectar guide. The secretory epidermis has papillae whose cells are covered by an ornamented cuticle. The subtended tissue is composed of a tree-layered collenchyma. The flowers attract several species of Hymenoptera. However, a single species of Centris was recorded as pollinator. The bees collect the nectar produced inside the cuniculus. When the bees leave the flower the pollinarium is attached to their heads. Encyclia mapuerae is self-compatible and pollinator-dependent. The reproductive success in natural conditions is low because of deficient pollen transference due to the scarcity of pollinators. As far we know this is the first study that reports and production of floral reward in Encyclia. This discovery provides new insights on the function of the cuniculus in Laeliinae, and sheds light on the evolution of floral rewards and pollination mechanisms within this diverse group of Neotropical orchids.

Natural hybridization has often been recorded within certain genera of orchids, one of them is Catasetum. During a field study in a forest de igapó in Brazilian Amazon, a new natural hybrid was found, it is here described as Catasetum × sheyllae. Its morphological features, mainly the structures of the lip, are intermediate between those of its putative parent species, C. boyi and C. garnettianum, both observed in sympatry.

The first record of Vanilla labellopapillata is presented for the state of Amazonas, Brazil, in the region of Manaus, now the western limit of the species, which was previously known only from the type locality in the state of Pará. A brief description is provided and taxonomic and ecological aspects of the species are discussed in the light of this new finding.

Hybridization plays a relevant role in the evolution and diversification of flowering plants. Natural hybridization has been commonly recorded in some orchid groups. During fieldwork in a Citrus plantation in the Brazilian Amazon, plants of Ionopsis utricularioides, I. satyrioides and an unidentified taxon with intermediate morphology between both sympatric species were found. The plants with intermediate features are most likely a natural hybrid between I. utricularioides and I. satyrioides described here as I. × atalibae.