A revision of Aechmea subgenus Macrochordion (Bromeliaceae) based on phenetic analyses of morphological variation

Abstract

Considerable taxonomic confusion exists among species of Aechmea subgenus Macrochordion (Bromeliaceae), which comprises the A. bromeliifolia complex. Cluster and principal components analyses were performed in order to identify how many taxa exist in this complex and how they can be distinguished morphologically. Data for 16 morphological characters were scored from 38 selected specimens from different geographical regions, including type specimens. Results from phenetic analyses, associated with observations in the field and of herbaria exemplars, support the recognition of five species, one with two varieties (A. alba, A. bromeliifolia var. bromeliifolia, A. bromeliifolia var. albobracteata, A. lamarchei, A. maasii and A. triangularis). Five previously recognized taxa are placed into synonymy: A. maculata and A. chlorophylla (both under A. lamarchei); A. pabstii (under A. alba); A. kautskyana (under A. triangularis); and A. bromeliifolia var. angustispica (under A. bromeliifolia var. bromeliifolia). This revision also includes a key to the species, descriptions, specimens examined, illustrations, photographs, distribution maps and information on conservation status. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London.