A synopsis of the Bromeliaceae of Panama, including new records for the country

Abstract

Based on extensive field and herbarium studies, twenty species of Bromeliaceae are newly reported for Panama: Aechmea beeriana, A. penduliflora, A. pittieri, A. strobilacea, Bromelia hemispherica, Guzmania graminifolia, G. hollinensis, Pitcairnia halophila, P. wendlandii, Tillandsia dexteri, T. ionantha, T. longifolia, T. utriculata, Werauhia bracteosa, W. kathyae, W. macrantha, W. macrochlamys, W. notata, W. paniculata, W. viridis. Former reports of six bromeliad species for Panama are revised as erroneous. The bromeliad flora of Panama now comprises 206 species. Endemism of the Bromeliaceae in Panama and Costa Rica is newly evaluated based on this revised inventory: 33 species are endemic to Panama, 32 to Costa Rica, 36 species to both countries. Only 3 of the 8 presently recognised subfamilies occur in Panama. The genus Werauhia has its centre of diversity in Panama (47 of 87 species) and Costa Rica. A distribution map is presented for the newly reported species. © 2011 BGBM Berlin-Dahlem.