The genus Alcantarea also encompasses a characteristic group of small- to medium-sized species with simple intlorescences and whose leaves form very narrow tanks, or no tanks at all. These endemic species are restricted to high altitude grasslands or those on rocky outcrops
The first species to be described with these traits was A. farneyi (Martinelli & Costa) J. R Grant, in 1990 (Martinelli & Costa, 1990). This bromeliad is found on the mountain tops of the Desengano Statc Park, in Santa Maria Madalena, Rio de Janeiro. —SeeBromelia
