Miscellaneous new species in the Brazilian Bromeliaceae

Abstract

From 1990 to 2006, 2,875 new angiosperm species were described in Brazil, including 280 new Bromeliaceae species. This publication rate is considered to be a useful indicator of floristic richness and also reveals the huge gaps in our knowledge of species that make up Brazilian biomes and the importance of taxonomy as a basic tool to assess biodiversity and conservation. The goal of modern taxonomists is in a race against time ordained by an unprecedented rate of global biodiversity loss, and therefore collaboration is vital to successfully close these gaps. This paper is the result of a broad cooperative research effort undertaken specifically to provide basic data on the identity of new components of Brazilian biological diversity. The authors describe and illustrate 22 new Bromeliaceae species from three subfamilies: Bromelioideae – Aechmea guaratingensis, A. paratiensis, A. rubroaristata, Cryptanthus capitellatus, C. venecianus, C. viridovinosus, Hohenbergia aechmeoides, H. arcuata, H. barbarespina, H. reconcavensis, Nidularium alegrense, Orthophytum teofilo-otonense, O. cearence; Pitcairnioideae – Dyckia espiritosantensis, D. nana, Pitcairnia capixaba; Tillandsioideae – Tillandsia castelensis, Vriesea euclidiana, V. fontanae, V. multifoliata, V. sanctateresensis and V. teresopolitana.