Angiosperms display an enormous diversity of forms, functions and strategies when it comes to reproduction. This multiplicity has been translated into several terminological concepts and contexts, which have facilitated further research. On the other hand, the use of terms that address the reproduction of flowering plants has been shown to be inconsistent in the literature, complicating communication among specialists. Key terms, such as "reproductive system", "mating system" and "sexual system", among others, have been frequently cited as synonyms, and even used in different circumstances. This review proposes to establish a consistent nomenclatural classification in the field of angiosperms reproductive biology in order to facilitate communication among researchers. Specific terms related to angiosperm reproduction are conceptualized and distributed into five general systems: four related to sexual reproduction (sexual, floral, incompatibility and mating systems); and one related to asexual reproduction (apomictic systems). Our proposal is not to establish a natural classification, but rather to provide a general overview of the main concepts that were grouped here in an artificial and functional manner. Our aim is to advance the field of reproductive biology of angiosperms with consistent and well-defined applications of relevant terminologies.

Rubiaceae contains the largest number of distylous species in the Angiosperms, but the evolution and control of distyly is poorly understood in this group. Atypical distylous populations and species have been described in this family and associated with disturbance, pollination failure and impaired reproductive success. Some of these atypical taxa belong to Psychotria, the largest genus in the family. In the present study, we investigate the pollination and breeding biology of Psychotria carthagenensis Jacq., a widely distributed species that has been described as typically distylous. Fieldwork was carried out mainly at the Panga Ecological Station, in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. We carried out phenological observations, floral biology studies and hand pollination experiments within the Panga Ecological Station population. We complemented these data with herbarium and field surveys from elsewhere in Brazil. The studied population bloomed at the beginning of the rains (September-December). The main pollinators were Bombus and small Halictidae bees. The Panga Ecological Station population presented pinmonomorphism with only two thrum individuals in more than 100 flowering individuals surveyed. Hand pollinations at the Panga Ecological Station showed self-compatibility and intramorph compatibility. Typical distyly and isoplethy were found in other areas and both morphs appeared in herbarium material. However, pin-monomorphism was also observed elsewhere in Brazil. Typical distyly, pin-monomorphism and homostyly observed concurrently in Brazilian populations of P. carthagenensis indicate that alternative reproductive strategies, probably favoring selfing, appear to have developed independently in this species.

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-(Floral variation and reproductive biology of Manettia cordifolia Mart. (Rubiaceae)). Rubiaceae is the largest family with distylous species among the Angiosperms. The distyly in those species may vary in form and degree leading to homostyly, monomorphism and dioecy. The objective of this study was to describe the floral biology, pollination and breeding system of Manettia cordifolia Mart. The study was carried out in The Panga Ecological Station and riverside of the Uberabinha (Uberlândia, MG), and complemented with observations of collections deposited in herbaria. Manettia cordifolia is a vine with flower traits of typical of hummingbird pollination syndrome. The main pollinator was the hummingbird Phaetornis pretrei. The plant cannot be considered a distylous species, although it is in a genera known as distylous. The observed characteristics indicate a species with pin-monomorphy, probably derived from a distylous ancestral. Controlled pollinations showed a selfincompatible and non-apomictic species. Pollen tube growth down to the ovary after selfing is similar to the observed in pin pistils of truly distylous congeneric species. The absence of information on the distyly genetic control in the Rubiaceae makes it difficult to interpret the variations observed on the present study.Key words -distyly, heterostyly, monomorphism, pollination, self-incompatibility RESUMO -(Variação floral e biologia reprodutiva de Manettia cordifolia Mart. (Rubiaceae)). Rubiaceae é a maior família que contém espécies distílicas dentre as Angiospermas. A distilia nessas espécies pode apresentar variações de diferentes formas e graus, originando derivações como homostilia, monomorfia e dioicia. Este estudo tem objetivo de descrever a biologia floral, a polinização e o sistema reprodutivo de Manettia cordifolia Mart. O estudo foi realizado na Estação Ecológica do Panga e margens do Rio Uberabinha (Uberlândia, MG) e complementado com observações de material botânico depositado em herbários. Manettia cordifolia é uma liana com flores tipicamente ornitóflias. Seu polinizador principal foi o beija-flor Phaetornis pretrei. A espécie não foi considerada distílica, apesar de estar dentro de gênero considerado distílico. Suas características indicam ocorrência de monomorfismo longistílico, provavelmente derivado de um ancestral distílico, não sendo encontrados indivíduos brevistilos. Os testes de polinizações controladas indicam que a espécie é auto-incompatível e não apomítica. O crescimento do tubo polínico até o ovário após autopolinização é similar ao observado em flores longistilas de espécies verdadeiramente distílicas. A interpretação dos resultados é dificultada pela ausência de informações sobre o controle genético da heterostilia nas Rubiaceae.

Distyly is a floral polymorphism more common among the Rubiaceae than in any other angiosperm group. Palicourea rigida is a typically distylous species of the Rubiaceae widely distributed in the Brazilian Cerrados. This work aimed to study the floral biology and breeding system of P. rigida in order to verify if there wasasymmetry between floral morphs. The work was carried out at Fazenda Água Limpa, Brasília-DF, from 1993 to 1995; and at Serra Caldas Novas State Park-Goias and in Clube Caça e Pesca Itororó de Uberlândia-Minas Gerais in 2005 and 2006. Density, height and pin/thrum ratio were assessed for flowering individuals in all areas. Plants were investigated for differences in floral morphology, nectar production, reproductive success and site of self incompatibility reactions. Blooming period was long and concentrated during the rains. Flowers were clearly distylous and with reciprocal herkogamy. They produced nectar and lasted for a single day. In spite of differences in density and height, populations were mostly isoplethic. Nectar production varied in volume and concentration but the differences could not be associated with floral morphs. The species is self-incompatible but reproductive success was always high and independent of floral morphs. There were differences in the site of incompatibility barriers between floral morphs, which were similar to those observed for other Rubiaceae. The main floral visitors and pollinators were the hummingbirds Colibri serrirostris and Eupetomena macroura. High fruit-set indicates that the pollinators transported enough compatible pollen grains between floral morphs, despite their territorial behavior.