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Systematics Section / ASPT

Schmidt, Rachel [1], Brown, Gregory K. [1].

A survey of leaf anatomy in Bromeliaceae subfamily Bromelioideae.

The modern standard for comparative leaf anatomy in the Bromeliaceae is Tomlinson (1969). However, at least for the Bromelioideae, this monograph is based on an exemplar taxon sample that emphasizes generic-level comparisons. There are few detailed, comparative systematic leaf anatomy surveys within the Bromelioideae despite recognition that useful taxonomic characters are likely present. Consequently, the understanding of anatomical leaf variation within most Bromelioideae genera, and nearly all of the species, is inadequate. We present the results from a leaf anatomy survey that incorporated over 250 species from 21 genera in subfamily Bromelioideae (ca. 780 spp./33 genera). Several architectural forms are recognized, but, with few exceptions (e.g., Bromelia, Cryptanthus), these do not correlate well with currently recognized (i.e., Smith & Downs 1979) genera or subgenera. Parsimony and phenetic analyses suggest that most anatomical similarities (e.g., extent of hydrenchyma, occurrence and distribution of extra-vascular fiber bundles, epidermal and hypodermal sclerification patterns) more likely reflect repeated, independent ecological adaptations or radiations and not phylogenetic relationships.


1 - University of Wyoming, Department of Botany, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA

Keywords:
Bromeliaceae
Bromealioideae
leaf anatomy.

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 2-15
Location: Cottonwood A (Snowbird Center)
Date: Monday, August 2nd, 2004
Time: 11:45 AM
Abstract ID:570


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