Drastic changes in dry tropical forest result in the loss of biological components and reveal the importance of studies on the biology of species living in it. The present study aimed to describe seed morphoanatomy, germination and post-seminal development of Bromeliaceae species in fragments of tropical dry forest in Sucre, Colombia. Seven species representing Bromelia and Tillandsia genera were evaluated. The results provide characteristics related to the habitat of each species and contribute to distinguish the genera evaluated: fruit and seed measurements, seed shape, plumose appendage, testa characteristics, and the aleurone layer, embryo endosperm ratio, types of reserves, constriction zone in the embryo and type of post-seminal development. Characteristics of plumose appendages and the presence of vascular bundles in the embryo also contribute to distinguish Tillandsia species. In T. elongata and T. flexuosa, high number of seeds per fruit (> 100), morphoanatomical aspects, high germination (> 92%) and plant formation (> 77%) percentages, and higher germination rate values (> 4.5) give them the potential capacity for establishment in this environment. Our results provide information with taxonomic and ecological relevance for bromeliads in dry tropical forest.

Ananas ananassoides (Baker) L.B.Sm. is a wild pineapple, commonly found in the savannas. This study aimed to describe the morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of its seed. The observations were made in the longitudinal and transverse sections, using an optical microscope. The cell arrangement in the seed coat, ripples in the integument, the ratio of embryo size and endosperm amount, and the number of strata in the aleurone layer are anatomical characteristics that may contribute to distinguishing this species. The starch in the endosperm, lipids and proteins in the embryo, constitute the seed's main nutritional reserves. The homogeneous embryo and phenolic compounds present in the seed coat and in the aleurone layer possibly contribute to the dormancy in this species. This study presents information relevant to the taxonomy and physiology of A. ananassoides, which represents contributions to the global knowledge of this species with a high potential as ornamental.