Collaborative Research: Revisionary Studies in BromeliaceaeSubfamily Tillandsioideae

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

In a collaborative project, Drs. Amy Jean Gilmartin of Washington State University and Greg Brown of The University of Wyoming are studying the morphology, chromosomes, and breeding systems of select members of the tropical Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family. Among the 2100 species of the family, at least half grow as epiphytes upon other plants, although without parasitic effect on the host. Many are succulents that are able to survive on limited and sporadic sources of moisture. The evolution of these xeric (dry-loving) plants is one critical question which this research will help to answer. The project enlists the aid of 16 resident botanists from nine Latin American countries. These individuals and their students collect specimens including vials of floral buds for chromosome analysis. This network of resident collectors has proven effective and has stimulated more general collecting in several South American countries. The primary focus of the continuing taxonomic work is on the large and difficult genus of "Spanish moss" plants, Tillandsia. Completed work will improve species recognition in this group, map geographic distributions throughout native ranges, and provide an analysis of evolutionary relationships among the species.