Ipomoea eriocalyx Meisn. is a native Brazilian species, with distribution restricted to states in the northeastern and southeastern regions, limited to Caatinga and Atlantic Forest phytogeographic domains. This study aimed to investigate aspects of flowering, floral biology and the pollination mechanism of I. eriocalyx in an urban remnant of Atlantic Forest, Bahia, including ecological data. Flowering and fruiting of I. eriocalyx were continuous throughout the year. Flowers are showy, infundibiliform, with diurnal anthesis, and offer pollen and possibly nectar as floral resources. Although they present melittophilous features, the flowers are also attractive to other flower visitors, such as butterflies, flies and beetles. Ipomoea eriocalyx is self-compatible and has bees [(Ceratina (Crewella) spp. Melitomasegmentaria] as the main pollinators, a fact that could favor its establishment in anthropogenic environments.
Apoidea; ephemeral flowers; melittophily; ruderal plant; vine
