Comanthera elegans (Bong.) L.R. Parra & Giul (''sempre-viva-pé-de-ouro'') is one of the most economically important species among the Eriocaulaceae in Brazil. Its inflorescences are used to make handicrafts and have long been exported to all over the world. The collection period usually begins in the second half of April and extends to May, occasionally until the first half of June. We assessed seed production and germinability throughout the 2006 harvest season: April-November, as well as the variation in morphology and anatomy of inflorescences along this period. In the evaluated flowering, seeds still had not yet been completely formed by early April, the onset month of commercial collection. Instead, germinable seeds were first observed in May, while seed dispersal was already in progress in early June. Collection in June resulted in plant uprooting, due to the tighter attachment of the scape to the rosette. The beginning and peak of germination occurred earlier for seeds from the most delayed collections, and the highest germinability was presented by seeds collected in September.We showed that the best period for the plant sexual reproduction surpasses the best period for commercial collection. Due to the onset of germinable seeds only as late as at the second half of the harvesting period, encouraging the delayed beginning of inflorescence collection may well represent a management strategy. Furthermore, the reservation of non-harvesting areas, which would secure the maintenance of plant populations in the wild and thus guarantee seed production and dispersal; maintaining remnants of inflorescences in collected areas; and encouraging cultivation should be considered.

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Marketing the inflorescences of Comanthera elegans (Bong.) L.R. Parra & Giul. represents a source of income to many families from extractives communities in the portion of the Espinhaço Range located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cultivating this species stands out by allying income generation with conservation since the species is currently endangered. This study aimed to assess aspects of the development of C. elegans in three cultivation systems: beds, rows, and whole area. Sowing took place in January 2009 and the inflorescences were harvested in May 2010, which characterized the experimental period. Emergence; plant density; rates of flowering, mortality, resprouting, and recruiting of new individuals; and production of inflorescences per plant and per area were assessed. Emergence began approximately 50 days after sowing. Plant density ranged from 130 to 350 plants.m -2 among the three cultivation systems. The highest mortality rate (18%) was observed at the peak of the dry season (August) and the overall mortality rate over one reproductive cycle was 49%. Of the plants that lost the aerial part, 36% resprouted. . Keywords: Campos Rupestres, Eriocaulaceae, production, management, dry cut flowers. RESUMO Desenvolvimento da sempre viva (Comanthera elegans (Bong.) L.R. Parra & Giul.) em três sistemas de cultivoA comercialização das inflorescências de Comanthera elegans (Bong.) L.R. Parra & Giul. representa fonte de renda para muitas famílias de comunidades extrativistas da porção mineira da Serra do Espinhaço. O cultivo representa uma importante alternativa de geração de renda aliada à conservação, já que a espécie consta em lista de ameaçadas. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar os aspectos do desenvolvimento de C. elegans em três sistemas de cultivo: em canteiro, faixa e área total. O semeio ocorreu em janeiro de 2009 e a colheita das inflorescências em maio de 2010 caracterizou o final do período experimental. Avaliou-se a emergência, a densidade de plantas, as taxas de floração, de mortalidade, de rebrota e de recrutamento de novos indivíduos e a produção de inflorescências por planta e por área. A emergência iniciou aproximadamente 50 dias após o semeio. A densidade de plantas variou entre 130 e 350 plantas.m -2 nos três sistemas de cultivo. A maior taxa de mortalidade (18%) foi observada no pico da estação seca (agosto) e a taxa de mortalidade acumulada durante um ciclo reprodutivo foi de 49%. Das plantas que perderam a parte aérea, 36% rebrotaram. O brotamento e a germinação de sementes contribuíram com 30 e 3% do recrutamento de novos indivíduos. C. elegans apresentou duas florações (abril-maio de 2009 e abril-maio de 2010): 5,4% das plantas floresceram na primeira e 78%, na segunda floração. Cada planta produziu entre 3-178 inflorescências, e a maior produção de inflorescências, em peso (232 g.m -2 ) e número (2910 inflorescências.m -2 ), foi observada no sistema de cultivo em canteiros, o que corresponde a 1624 Kg.ha -1 . Palavras-chave: Campos Rupestres, Eriocaulaceae, prod...