Reproductive ecology in Mexican Annonaceae: What do we know?

Annonaceae is a family of the order Magnoliales with a high species richness and a characteristic floral structure and composition. This lineage inhabits tropical forests around the world, and its evolutionary history has been addressed through the study of its reproductive mechanisms, mainly in Asian and South American species. In Mexico there are 76 reported species of which about 60 % are endemic, however, there are few studies of the reproductive ecology of these plants. In this review we examine the reproductive ecology of the Mexican Annonaceae, floral morphology and biology, phenology, pollination systems, and seed dispersal mechanisms. In general, Mexican Annonaceae have protogynous flowers, they are pollinated by insects, and few species of the genus Desmopsis have reproductive systems by cloning. Herbarium data and publications indicate that they have seasonal flowering patterns linked to rainfall. Beetles, flies, and ants can be the main pollinators, and seed dispersal depends on vertebrates. This review highlights the urgent need for in-depth study of reproductive ecology and specialized reproductive interactions in Mexico's threatened tropical systems.