Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. (Bromeliaceae): caracterização demográfica e potencial de manejo em uma população no Planalto Norte Catarinense

Abstract

Native plant management is an alternative capable of promoting an increase in income
for farmers, while at the same time promoting conservation of the plant's natural environment, as well as
retrieving and propagating traditional knowledge by favoring conservation through use. Bromelia antiacantha
Bertol., a native species of the Atlantic Forest, is one of these plants. Itsfruits are traditionally used to produce
expectorant syrup in the Northern Plateau of Santa Catarina state. The main objective of this study was
to evaluate the population structure and dynamics of B. antiacantha in natural populations located in the
National Forest of Três Barras, Santa Catarina, in order to support sustainable management strategies of
the species within the Araucaria Forests. In order to evaluate the population, a demographic assessment
was conducted of all plant individuals existing within five permanent plots of 600m2
, In five evaluations (in
2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2008), leaf length and phenological stage were measured. The demographic
results demonstrate that despite the continuous entrance of genets and ramets, evidently the B. antiacantha
population is maintained by ramets. The production estimates and economic evaluation elaborated in other
works indicate the exploitation of the fruits to generate expectorant syrup is an interesting economic activity.
However, further studies are needed in order to establish concrete management strategies