Leme & Till 2020 (Article) Tillandsia, Vriesea

Two Critically Endangered new Tillandsioids from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Domain

Author(s):—E.M.C. Leme & W. Till

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 70(2): 54-66. (2020)

Abstract:—The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is considered one of the most endangered ecosystems on the Planet (Tabarelli et al 2005) despite having been one of the largest rainforests of the Americas, which originally covered around 150 million hectares, in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions (Ribeiro et al. 2009). It is recognized as the fourth hottest biodiversity hotspot with 1–8% of the world’s species, sheltering one of the highest rates of endemism of plants and animals, even considering that less than 15% of its original coverage remained, mostly comprising small (less than 50 hectares), isolated, and disturbed fragments (Meyers et al. 2000, Lima et al. 2015). Aubréville (1959) predicted that the Atlantic forest between the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil, would disappear before it became scientifically known, a fact made more serious by the huge biodiversity and number of endemic species found in this forest. Examples of this are the newly described, seriously endangered animal and plant species that are constantly being discovered. The two endemic new tillandsioids described below from rock formations in the Atlantic Forest domain reinforce the scientifically underexplored status of these rich habitat fragments.

Published names (2):

Tillandsia longiscapa
Vriesea takahashiana