Versieux et al 2008b (Article) Brazil

Bromeliaceae da Cadeia do Espinhaço

Author(s):—L.M. Versieux, T. Wendt, R.B. Louzada & M.G.L. Wanderley

Publication:—Megadiversidade 4(1-2): 126-138. (2008)

Abstract:—Bromeliaceae is a monocot family that has a great ecological importance in the atlantic forest and in campo rupestre vegetation. This paper presents a checklist of the 26 genera and 224 species of Bromeliaceae occurring in the Espinhaço mountain chain that is located in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Minas Gerais. This checklist was based on the survey of 17 herbaria collections, field work and related literature sources. A total of 19 genera and 106 species were inventoried for Bahia, and 23 genera and 141 species are listed for Minas Gerais. Of the total number of species occurring in the Espinhaço, 111 (49,5%) are endemic of this range, and only 21 (9,5%) occur in both states, reflecting the peculiar vegetations that are rich in narrowly ranged species. Among the three Bromeliaceae subfamilies, Bromelioideae is the richest in number of genera and species and is better represented along the southern portion of the Espinhaço Range, at Minas Gerais. Subfamilies Tillandsioideae and Pitcairnioideae also stand out due to Vriesea and Dyckia, both these genera are rich in species and in endemism. The checklist indicates that most of the collections come from less than 10 counties in each state, and that there are still undercollected areas along this range.