Coffani-Nunes 2015 (Conference Paper) Aechmea, Nidularium, rhizomes

Anatomy of the rhizomes of Aechmea, Nidularium and Vriesea (Bromeliaceae)

Author(s):—J.V. Coffani-Nunes & M.P. Botanico in Benko-Iseppon, A.M.; Alves, M. & Louzada, R. (2015) An overview and abstracts of the First World Congress on Bromeliaceae Evolution. Rodriguésia 66(2): A1-A66.

Publication:— (2015).

Abstract:—Bromeliaceae is included in the basal clade of the Poales, and is characterized by having leaves in rosettes, water-storage tissue in the mesophyll, lepidote indumentum, and stigma spiral-conduplicate. The family is presently organized into eight subfamilies, 58 genera and about 3,248 species, which are predominantly Neotropical. There are few anatomical studies of their flowering rhizomes, as well as, no information that allow an evaluation of their taxonomic potential. The rhizomes of five species, belonging to two subfamilies of Bromelioideae (Aechmea pectinata Baker, Nidularium innocentii Lem., Nidularium procerum Lindm.)and Tillandsioideae (Vriesea incurvata Gaudich, Vriesea rodrigasiana E. Morren) were analyzed, with three replicates. The species were collected in the Restinga area of Cananéia (25°01?35?S and 45°57?43?W), State of São Paulo, Brazil. The rhizomes were conserved in 70% ethanol, set in plastic resin and stained with Toluidine Blue after cross sections were obtained using a rotary microtome. All the species showed one-layered epidermis, internal cortex with conspicuous intracellular space, internal cortex with conspicuous intracellular spaces and presence of raphid idioblasts, and cortical and medullar vascular bundle. However, characters suchas a thick epidermis, two or three cortical levels, presence or absence of a continuous fiber cylinder (= scleroticcylinder) and intercortical roots aided in the differentiation of the species. The present study established that the anatomy of the rhizomes has taxonomic potential, making it possible to differentiate the species.

Keywords:—Bromelioideae; Tillandsioideae; Atlantic Rainforest.