Inflorescence architecture in Brazilian species ofAechmeasubgenusChevaliera(Bromeliaceae - Bromelioideae)

Abstract

The inflorescences in Bromeliaceae are indeterminate, supported by a terminal scape of variable size, and with bracts of variable position, number, colour, shape and texture. Aechmea is the most diverse genus of Bromelioideae (c. 220 species) having large inflorescences of variable size and shape. Aechmea subgenus Chevaliera comprises 21 taxa distributed throughout Central and South America, with a centre of species richness in eastern Brazil. A study of the inflorescence morphology of 15 Brazilian species is presented here (A. alopecurus, A. castanea, A. conifera, A. depressa, A. digitata, A. hostilis, A. leucolepis, A. multiflora, A. muricata, A. ornata, A. perforata, A. rodriguesiana, A. saxicola, A. sphaerocephala and Aechmea sp. nov. unpublished). The study was based on living specimens and herbarium material with the inflorescence architecture observed at different developmental stages. The study describes the architectural form of the inflorescences in full flower or with at least half of the flowers open, as fruit development may produce architectural changes in the axis. The inflorescence in the subgenus ranges from simple to compound. Spicate inflorescences are the basic pattern, and a capituliform pattern is reported here for the first time in Bromeliaceae. Compound inflorescences are the rarest form in the subgenus, being represented by racemes of spikes. Descriptions, illustrations and schematic diagrams are presented.

Diurnal frugivores on the Bromeliaceae Aechmea depressa L.B. Sm. from Northeastern Brazil: the prominent role taken by a small forest primate

“…Its inflorescence is simple and capitulated with a short scape (13-20 cm) covered by rigid and imbricate bracts, and the inflorescence axis (or rachis) is short and robust (Sousa et al 2008). Flowers are sessile, arranged polystichously subtended by a rigid floral bract and are found in February, April and July (Canela et al 2003).…”

“…Secondly, some species have a short scape supporting the infructescence, which remain covered by leaves extending beyond the length of the infructescence. In addition, some members of Aechmea subgenus Chevaliera have hidden fruits buried within the infructescence and covered by a hard floral bract with a serrate margin or pungent apex (Smith & Downs 1979, Sousa et al 2008. At the fruiting period, fruits are totally or partially hidden by floral bracts (T. Fontoura pers.…”

Assessing genetic divergence in interspecific hybrids of Aechmea gomosepala and A. recurvata var. recurvata using inflorescence characteristics and sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers

“…This information could also guide the selection of promising materials and new crosses and elucidate the mechanism by which horticultural traits are inherited. Previous studies have assessed the genetic diversity among various bromeliad species (Izquierdo and Pinero, 2000;Barfuss et al, 2005;Sousa et al, 2008;Palma-Silva et al, 2009;Boisselier-Dubayle et al, 2010); however, little information is available on the genetic divergence among interspecific hybrids in Aechmea.…”

A new species of Aechmea Ruiz & Pavon (Bromelioideae‐bromeliaceae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest

“…They occur in humid, shaded forest environments, as well as in open areas such as in restinga vegetation (Smith & Downs 1979;Sousa 2004;Sousa & Wanderley 2007;Sousa et al 2008).…”

“…The inflorescence is multi-flowered, and may be strobiliform -with the flowers in simple spikes -or consist of compound capitula or racemes of spikes (Sousa et al 2008). A notable feature of the species of this subgenus is the very well-developed infructescence, reaching 40 cm in length.…”