Aechmea

Abstract: This book, first published in 2000, presents a synthesis of the extensive information available on the biology of Bromeliacea, a largely neotropical family of about 2700 described species. Reproductive and vegetative structure and related physiology, ecology and evolution are emphasized, rather than floristics and taxonomy. Guiding questions include: why is this family inordinately successful in arboreal (epiphytic) and other typically stressful habitats and also so important to extensive fauna beyond pollinators and frugivores in the forest canopy? Extraordinary and sometimes novel mechanisms that mediate water balance, tolerance for high and low exposures, and mutualisms with ants have received much study and allow interesting comparisons among plant taxa and help explain why members of this taxon exhibit more adaptive and ecological variety than most other families of flowering plants. This volume concentrates on function and underlying mechanisms, thus will round out a literature that otherwise mostly ignores basic biology in favour of taxonomy and horticulture.

Abstract: This study dealt with phenology and flower visitors of some Bromeliaceae species in an Atlantic Forest area at Parque Estadual Intervales, southeastern Brazil. The taxa studied belonged to the genera Tillandsia L. (3 spp.), Vriesea Lindl. (5 spp.), Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. (3 spp.), Billbergia Thunb. (1 sp.) and Nidularium Lem. (2 spp.). Sample transects were established in areas with different succession stages, where the bromeliads were localized and marked. Flowering phenology surveys were made monthly. The bromeliad community showed a sequential flowering all along the year and most species flowered during the rainy season. The floral visitors were recorded by naturalistic observations. Eight hummingbird species visited the bromeliads flowers. Among them, Phaethornis eurynome Lesson and Thalurania glaucopis Gmelin were the most frequent visitors. Bromeliads were divided in two groups by similarity analysis of floral visitors (hummingbirds): a group represented by species visited by Trochilinae hummingbirds and another visited by Phaethornis eurynome (subfamily Phaethornithinae). The competition among bromeliad species for pollinators is reduced due to their spatial distribution and the flowering periods.