Genera Of Bromeliaceae Research Articles

Stigmatodon francae (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae), a New Species from Cliff Ecosystems on Inselbergs in Southeastern Brazil

Stigmatodon Leme, G. K. Br. & Barfuss is an exclusively Brazilian genus of Bromeliaceae that occurs mainly on large vertical granite surfaces of inselbergs in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. A new species found in cliff ecosystems on inselbergs in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro is described and illustrated. Data are provided on its habitat, ecology, and geographical distribution, together with an evaluation of its conservation status according to IUCN criteria.

Flora of Paraíba State, Brazil: Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. (Bromeliaceae)

Abstract: Aechmea is one of the largest genera of Bromeliaceae, having more than 250 species, and Brazil is its principal center of endemism. We taxonomically examined the species of Aechmea encountered in Paraíba State in northeastern Brazil. Our analyses were based on specimens collected during the present study, as well as examinations of local and regional herbaria collections. Eleven species were encountered to State: Aechmea aquilega, A. chrysocoma, A. costantinii, A. emmerichiae, A. eurycorymbus, A. fulgens, A. leptantha, A. mertensii, A. nudicaulis, A. patentissima, and A. werdermannii. Of those taxa, seven are endemic to northeastern Brazil and five are included within one of the threatened categories according to IUCN criteria, two of them being "endangered" and "critically endangered". We include here a key to the identification of the species, a list of the materials examined, commentaries concerning the taxonomic affinities of the species based on morphological characters, data concerning their geographic distributions, flowering, fruiting, inferences concerning their conservation statuses, as well as images and drawings indicating their principal characteristics.

Post-pollination barriers in an assemblage of Bromeliaceae in south-eastern Brazil

The co-occurrence of different species and genera of Bromeliaceae in a plant community in south-eastern Brazil gave us the opportunity to test for pre- and post-zygotic barriers to interspecific gene flow. We evaluated the inhibition of pre-zygotic pollen tube growth in 13 species of Bromeliaceae in an assemblage with a large overlap of flowering periods and similar guild of flower visitors. After controlled heterospecific pollinations, we searched for arrested pollen tube growth or congruous ovule penetration using fluorescence microscopy techniques. We observed congruous crosses in 27 (26.5%) and incongruity phenomena in 75 (73.5%) out of 102 heterospecific crosses performed. We recorded ovule penetration in six out of 28 interspecific crosses (21%) and 21 out of 74 intergeneric crosses (28%). In incongruous crosses, we recorded pollen tube inhibition in the pistil, which is evidence for pre-zygotic post-pollination barriers. Species including Aechmea araneosa and Quesnelia quesneliana showed a high frequency of congruous ovule penetration after heterospecific crosses, occasionally reciprocally with the pollen donor. Although we conclude that hybridization is feasible in the assemblage, our results also suggest that post-pollination reproductive barriers involving pollen inhibition are the primary mechanisms preventing heterospecific gene flow as pre-pollination barriers (phenological and ethological) appear to be weak.

Three new species of Encholirium (Bromeliaceae) from eastern Brazil

Encholirium is an exclusively Brazilian genus of Bromeliaceae that occurs principally in the South American dry diagonal, with only a few species found on inselbergs within the Atlantic Forest. The center of diversity of the genus falls within the Campos Rupestres of the Espinhaço Range of the state of Minas Gerais, followed by rocky outcrops found within the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. Three new species are described and illustrated, two of which occur on limestone outcrops in western Bahia (Encholirum splendidum and Encholirium fragae), while the third, Encholirium kranzianum, occurs in the Campos Rupestres of the Espinhaço Range of Minas Gerais.

Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae on rocky outcrops in the Agreste Mesoregion of the Paraíba State, Brazil

ABSTRACT The present study consists of the floristics-taxonomic survey of Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae on rocky outcrops located at an Atlantic Forest-Caatinga transition area in Paraíba State, northeast of Brazil, in order to provide data for the implementation of the biota conservation’s policies, especially of the flora associated to rocky environments of Paraíba State, given that the taxonomic studies focusing on such families in this state are still incipient. During the study, ten species in six genera of Bromeliaceae and six species in five genera of Orchidaceae were recorded. The treatment includes keys for recognition of the species of families, morphological descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution data, and comments on the phenology of the species.

<I>Lapanthus</I> (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae): A New Genus from the Southern Espinhaço Range, Brazil

In this paper we describe a new genus of Bromeliaceae, Lapanthus, restricted to the southern portion of the Espinhaco Range, Minas Gerais State, in southeastern Brazil. Two new combinations to accommodate species previously described in the genera Orthophytum and Cryptanthus and one new synonym are proposed. Lapanthus has morphological affinities with both Cryptanthus and Orthophytum, but nevertheless differs by the combination of margins of the petals ciliate, presence of lanceolate petal appendages and free stamens, and also by molecular data. Cryptanthus and Orthophytum have petals entire along the margins, and the filaments of the most internal whorl are adnate to the petals. Lapanthus stands out by having a pair of lanceolate petal appendages, which are almost completely adnate to the petals. In Orthophytum, however, appendages are cupuliform or sacciform and they are totally absent in the genus Cryptanthus. Lapanthus and Orthophytum present meiotic and mitotic chromosome numbers equal to n=25 and 2n=50, 100 and 150 respectively, while Cryptanthus presents meiotic and mitotic chromosome numbers n=17 and 2n=34, 36, 54 respectively, and this difference is considered to be an autapomorphic feature of Cryptanthus. Descriptions of the genus and species, identification keys, illustrations, photographs of living specimens, and taxonomic comments are provided.

Genetic Variation in Three Endangered Species of Encholirium (Bromeliaceae) from Cadeia do Espinhaço, Brazil, Setected using RAPD Markers

Encholirium is a Brazilian genus of Bromeliaceae that occurs exclusively in rocky landscapes. This work aimed to generate basic information for the conservation of three Encholirium species that are endemic to the rocky mountains of Cadeia do Espinhaco, employing population genetic analyses. E. pedicellatum and E. biflorum have only one very small population each, both occurring in unprotected, private land sites, being critically endangered. E. subsecundum is more widespread, and some of its populations dwell in protected areas. Five Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers generated approximately 60 polymorphic bands for each species. This technique demonstrated the presence of a single RAPD profile for every individual sampled (except for one clone found in E. biflorum). High levels of genetic variability were not expected, due to the clonal habit of the plants and small size of the populations. Populations of E. biflorum and E. pedicellatum presented, respectively, 16.06% (Φst = 0.16, p<0.001) and 8.44% (Φst = 0.08, p<0.001) of the total genetic diversity attributable to genetic differences among groups within the populations. In E. subsecundum, 14.52% (Φst = 0.15, p<0.001) of the total genetic diversity was found among populations. Estimates of the Shannon’s Diversity Index provided similar results. These results are valuable for the development of conservation strategies.

New or restored genera of Bromeliaceae

New or restored genera of Bromeliaceae

Microflora de Bromeliáceas do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

O autor estudou a microflora de dois gêneros de BROMELIACEAE: Hoenbergia e Portea. As coletas do material foram feitas em seis regiões do Estado de Pernambuco; 1) Região da Mata-Úmida; 2) Região da Mata-Seca; 3) Região do Agreste Central; 4) Região do Agreste Setentrional; 5) Região do Agreste Meridional; 6) Região do Recife. As seguintes diatomáceas indicadoras de águas poluídas (espécies oligossaprobias) foram encontradas nas seis regiões estudadas: Gomphonema parvulum (Kutz) Grunow., Hantzschia amphioxys Grunow, Pinnularia borealis Ehr., Pinnularia microstauron (Ehr) Cleve, gomphonema gracile Ehr., Nitzschia palea Kutz., Melosira roeseana Rabenh., Navicula mutica Kutz., Navicula cryptocephala Kutz., Eunotia pectinalis (Kutz) Rabenh. Foram também observadas CHLOROPHYCEAS nas estações chuvosa e seca nas diversas regiões. Algumas são indicadoras de oligossaprobidade: Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turpin) brebisson. Chlorococcum sp., Chlorella sp. Os fatores ecológicos e comentários referentes ás diatomáceas foram anotados no texto. A tabela I indica a frequência das diatomáceas nas seis regiões estudadas. Maior número dessas diatomáceas, registramos nas regiões do Agreste. A tabela II mostra a temperatura e pH da água de Hoenbergia e Portea em ambas as estações do ano (inverno e verão). Observamos a ocorrência de larvas de culex em Portea e hoenbergia, entretanto, raramente encontramos larvas de Anopheles. As coletas foram feitas durante as estações chuvosa e seca em Hoenbergia e Portea. Determinamos 35 espécies provenientes de 78 amostras coletadas durante o período de 26 meses.

The genera of Bromeliaceae in the southeastern United States

The genera of Bromeliaceae in the southeastern United States

Cytotaxonomy of the Family Bromeliaceae

Detailed karyotype studies have been carried out on 15 different species and varieties belonging to 7 genera of Bromeliaceae, viz. Ananas, Bilbergia, Caraguata, Cryptanthus, Dyckia, Neoregelia and Pitcairnia.Although gross homogeneity in the karyotype among the members of the 7 genera is noticed, yet a critical analysis shows that each species and variety is characterised by the distinctive karyotype of its own, particularly in nature of secondary constriction-so structural alteration of chromosomes has been the prime factor in evolution within the family.Out of the 4 tribes within this family, in Tillandsieae, the prevalent chromosome series is 8 or 16; in Bromelieae it is 9, 18 and 25 and in Pitcairnieae it is 25. It has been suggested that 8 represents the basic set for this family from which other numbers might have been derived. On the basis of past report and present investigations a rearrangement of different tribes is suggested-Tillandsieae with its basic set of 8 should represent primitive whereas Pitcairnieae with a series of 25 forms the present climax of evolution. The intermediate stages are possibly represented by Bromelieae some of which are common to Tillandsieae and others with Pitcairnieae.