Wendt 1997 (Article) Pothuava

A review of the subgenus Pothuava (Baker) Baker of Aechmea Ruiz and Pav. (Bromeliaceae) in Brazil.

Author(s):—T. : Paz Wendt & R.I. Rios

Publication:—Botanical journal of the Linnean Society 125(3): 245-271. (1997)

Abstract:—Pothuma is a group of about 20 neotropical species treated here as a subgenus of Aechmea. The Brazilian taxa of Pothuaua is revised and ten species are recognized: A. nudicaulis, A. pectinata, A. vanhautteana, A. bocainensis, A. brugeri; A. alopecum, A. pinelinna, A. trihina, A. omata, and A. squamsa. New synonyms are proposed here: A. roberto-anselmii as a synonym of A. omata; A. carioca of A. squamsa; A. triticina var. capensis of A. pineliana; A. roberto-seidelii and A. guarapariensis of A. triticina. The species A. kleinii and A. pseudonudicaulis were removed from the subgenus Pothulva and transferred to the subgenus ortgiesia. A key to all taxa is supplied along with nomenclatural considerations, descriptions, drawings and geographic distribution maps.

Keywords:—Morphology- taxonomy

Taxonomy:—Aechmea cariocae Treated as a synonym of Aechmea squarosa .—Aechmea guarapariensis Treated as a synonym of Aechmea triticina .—Aechmea kleinii The original author stated affinity with A. lindenii (E. Morren) Baker, A. kertesziae Reitz and A. blumenavii Reitz, which are included in the subgenus Orgiesia. Smith & Downs (1979) placed A. kleinii into subgenus Pothuava with no apparent reason. This taxon is better treated in the subgenus Orgiesia, because it shows more morphological similarities with these species. (p.270).—Aechmea pineliana var. minuta Aechmea pineliana is highly variable in size leading to the description of the Aechmea pineliana var. minuta Foster. Variation in size can appear in the same population, so here A. pineliana is treated in a wide sense. .—Aechmea pseudonudicaulis x Aechmea pseudonudicaulis Leme, Bradea 4(50): 394,401 (1987). Type: Seidel 1074, Baixo Guandu, Espirito Santo, Brazil, flowering in cultivation 20.vii. 1987 (HB holotype; RB photo). The name ‘pseudonudicaulis’ was chosen because the species resembles A. nudicaulis. The original author stated affinity with A. alegmis W. Weber (subgenus Ortgesia). Irrespective of the similarities with A. nudicaulis (subgenus Pothuava), which is very distinct from other Pothuava species (see notes to A. nudicaulis), A. pseudonudicaulis is better placed in the subgenus Ortgesia which has more morphological affinities with these species. (p.270).—Aechmea robertoanselmoi Treated as a synonym of Aechmea ornata .—Aechmea robertoseidelii Treated as a synonym of Aechmea triticina .