Brocchinia uaipanensis (Maguire) Givnish
Literature references:
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Comments:
- This species has had a curious history, having been first described as a member of one genus of Velloziaceae by Bassett Maguire, then transferred to another genus in the same family by Lyman Smith, then the expert nonpareil on Bromeliaceae (!), and then finally transferred to Bromeliaceae by Smith (1969) upon the advice of Ayensu (1969). Its leaves are substantially thicker and more awl-like than those of other Brocchinia species; it has a sparsely branched habit with persistent, sheathing leaf bases and adventitious roots that run back down the stem under those leaf bases. Overall, its vegetative aspect is indeed similar to some Velloziaceae of order Pandanales. However, Brocchinia maguirei also has persistent leaf bases, and several Brocchinia species (e.g., B. micrantha Baker) have adventitious roots that interpenetrate the stem cortex. The adaptive significance of B. uaipanensis' growth form is unclear. It is restricted to Auyan-tepui and nearby Uaipan-tapui in southeastern Venezuela, and often grows in sparsely covered sites over fractured sandstone, atop windswept brinks and along streams (T J. Givnish pers. obs.). —See Givnish et al. 2007
