Porembski & Barthlott 1999 (Article) Pitcairnia

Pitcairnia feliciana, the only indigenous African bromeliad

Author(s):—S. Porembski & W. Barthlott in Grant, J.R. - Florilegium Luctatori Botanico Dedicatum - A Tribute to Lyman B. Smith (1904-1997)

Publication:—Harvard papers in botany 4(1): 175-184. (1999)

Abstract:—Bromeliaceae is perhaps the most characteristic endemic family of the tropical-subtropical Americas. However, there is one singular exception: Pitcairnia feliciana (A. Chev.) Harms & Mildbr. in West Africa. Restricted together with other endemics to remote rocky slopes of sandstone outcrops of the highlands of the Fouta Djalon (Republic of Guinea) it was only discovered in 1937 by Henri Jacques-Flix. Originally it was described by A. Chevalier as an isolated member of Liliaceae forming a new monotypic genus (Witlrussellio) and subtribe. Today its position within Pitcairnia (Bromeliaceae) is out of dispute. However, the plant is known very little and it is still in discussion whether it is introduced or truely indigenous. For the first time a detailed examination based on field studies and cultivated material is presented. It is shown, that P. feticiana is a truely endemic species very distinct in a number of characters (e.g. shape of stigma papillae, perforated testa cells) from neotropical Pitcairnia species indicating a considerable temporal isolation.

Keywords:—Africa, Bromeliaceae, biogeography, disjunction, endemism, Pitcairnia, rock outcrops