The ghost of climatic change in the geographic distribution of Tillandsia aeranthos (Bromeliaceae)

Abstract

The geographic distribution of Tillandsia aeranthos is updated with new records. Its southern limit is extended 200 kilometers in a zone previously studied by many botanists and naturalists, but also in poorly explored areas. For this reason, the possibility that the change in distribution is recent is postulated and discussed. The coincidence of this change with the southward shift in the isohyets and the decrease of winter frost frequency are highlighted as a possible cause of the advance to the south. In addition, two petal color variants of this species are first mentioned for Argentina. The new findings display that it is necessary to further explore some dry forests of eastern Buenos Aires and study the possible consequences of the climatic change in the biota of South America.