Leme & Kollmann 2020 (Article) Neoregelia, Quesnelia

Two Subtle New Bromelioids from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Domain

Author(s):—E.M.C. Leme & L.J.C. Kollmann

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 70(3): 120-134. (2020)

Abstract:—Most species descriptions conform with what can be regarded as the morphological or typological species concept (Bickford et a l. 2007). However, the still precarious knowledge about the precise morphological circumscription of countless bromeliad species and their natural pattern of variation due to environmental factors over their area of occurrence constitutes one of the greatest challenges to recognize and describe new species. The situation is even more difficult if we consider that many of the species described in previous centuries are known from fragmentary leaf and/or floral structures, often without the existence of a preserved type specimen.
On the other hand, the existence of “cryptic species”, which means two or more very similar but distinct species (usually detected by molecular analysis) that are hidden under one species name and so receive the same classification, because they are at least superficially morphologically indistinguishable (Bickford et al. 2007), represent an additional obstacle to access biodiversity richness based solely on a classical morphological approach, with serious implications in species conservation (Delić et al. 2017). Usually, differences between these species are subtle and require the use of more delicate morphological features that depend on a differentiated and more sophisticated sampling based on the observation of live specimens, such as those related to membranaceous structures not preserved in herborized materials (e.g., petal appendages and callosities, stigma type and ornamentation, ovule and seed appendages, etc), as well as the comparison of specimens in equivalent ideal flowering stage. Other non morphological data, like geographical range, habitat preference, phenology, pollination syndrome, flower odor/fragrance, to name a few, are equally important.

Published names (2):

Neoregelia altocaririensis
Quesnelia vasconcelosiana