Palma-S & Aguirre-S 2026 (Article) Bromeliaceae

Advances in evolutionary research of Bromeliaceae: revisiting traits, adaptations, and species limits in the ecological and geographic spaces

Author(s):—C. Palma-Silva & J. Aguirre-Santoro

Publication:—Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society boag017 (online). (2026) — DOI

Abstract:—INTRODUCTION: Bromeliaceae represents an exceptional model for understanding plant evolution and adaptive radiation in the American tropics (Palma-Silva et al. 2016; 2020). With nearly 3700 species (Gouda and Butcher 2025) and a recent diversification beginning ∼20 Mya (Givnish et al. 2007, 2011), it is the largest plant family almost entirely restricted to this region (Ulloa Ulloa et al. 2017). Most species have narrow geographic ranges and occur across all major Neotropical biomes and ecosystems, while concentrating their diversity in a few centres of endemism (Zizka et al. 2020). Bromeliads also show clear evidence of adaptive evolution, including specialized peltate trichomes for water uptake; a wide range of growth habits, from terrestrial and rupicolous to epiphytic forms; multiple shifts between photosynthetic pathways (e.g. C3 and CAM); diverse reproductive strategies and pollination systems; and several fruit-dispersal modes, from wind- or barometrically dispersed seeds in capsules to animal-dispersed berries (Benzing 2000).

Much of what we know today about bromeliad evolution builds on the work of numerous researchers during the 20th century who focused on detailed morphological studies, taxonomic treatments, physiological experimentation, and ecology of this plant family. Their efforts led to major syntheses such as the comprehensive taxonomic treatment of Smith and Downs (1974, 1977, 1979) and the revisionary work on the biology of bromelias by Benzing (2000), which remained the foundational reference framework for anyone interested in the natural history of Bromeliaceae.