Louzada 2015 (Conference Paper) Orthophytum

Systematics of Orthophytum and related genera

Author(s):—R. B. Louzada 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:—Over the last three decades authors have considered Orthophytum and Cryptanthus as closely related genera based mainly on morphology, including traditional taxonomic methods or under a morphological phylogeneticanalysis. Recently, the genus Lapanthus Louzada & Versieux was described to accommodate two striking species which were previously placed under Orthophytum and Cryptanthus -with an additional species added to the genus later. The three genera occur exclusively in eastern Brazil. Orthophytum and Cryptanthus can be found growing in the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) and Caatinga phytogeographic domains. In contrast, the Lapanthus species are found only in the Cerrado domain in the state of Minas Gerais. Molecular phylogenies support the monophyly of a group including these three genera. This group is included in the Bromelioideae subfamily, and arises as the first subclade branching from the Eu-Bromelioideae clade. Mainlyover the last fifteen years, taxonomic studies including descriptions of many new species, taxonomic revisionsand phylogenies have been published targeting Orthophytum and related genera. This talk aims to give an overview of what has been accomplished until now presenting the main advances in the systematics of the three genera. Studies in progress and perspectives of projects including traditional taxonomy, phylogenetics, phylogeography, population genetics and biogeography will be presented.

Keywords:—Bromelioideae; Inselberg; Phylogeny.