The Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán (Hidalgo): An illustrated checklist of bromeliads and orchids and their high levels of Mexican endemisms

This study presents a list of species of the two most important families with epiphytic elements, Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae, from the Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán (RBBM), the largest Reserve in Hidalgo, Mexico. Thirty-four species are included, 26 corresponding to species in three genera of bromeliads, and eight species in six genera of orchids. The new records represent 26.5% of the total listed in the area; nine of them are new records for the Reserve (RBBM) and one is new for Hidalgo State. This study reveals that endemism for both families is very important in the Reserve (55.88%), since it includes 13 Mexican bromeliads, of which two are endemic to Hidalgo and one to the Reserve, and three orchids, two endemic to Mexico and one to the Reserve. We found species with different types of relative abundance: rare (16) and occasional (7). Additionally, we include information about the category (IUCN, CITES, NOM-059-SEMARNAT) as well as uses reported in the literature for the species in the RBBM. The checklist is strictly based on information obtained from deposited herbarium specimens as well as from those collected during fieldwork. We suggest that a conservation plan (in situ and ex situ) for the RBBM is important and necessary. The predominant habit for both families is epiphytic (17 species); even though there are terrestrial (7) and saxicolous (2), and the remaining are facultative species (8). Nine species are included in some risk category. The present work is the most complete and updated list of Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae for this important natural area in the Mexican State of Hidalgo. However, more fieldwork is needed to document the biodiversity of the area in general and its flora in particular, as a way to highlight the importance of protected areas in preserving biodiversity

Bromeliads: traditional plant food in Latin America since prehispanic times

Bromeliads are monocots that have been consumed by natives in Latin America since pre-Hispanic times. The principal ways bromeliads are used as food sources include the whole fruit or another part of the plant. They are eaten as a vegetable or prepared in beverages (fermented or unfermented). This study includes local literature, personal observations and open interviews with people who know about the alimentary uses of bromeliads. The results cover ten countries and 24 species of bromeliads which have been reported and described as traditional foodstuffs. Of these, 76.9% have only a single use and 23.0% have two different uses. One species (Bromelia pinguin) has three different uses. Even in the present day these plants are still eaten as vegetables (12 sp.), used to prepare beverages (11 sp.) and/or consumed directly as fruits (nine sp.). It is important to note that contrary to expectations, in Latin America bromeliads are consumed more as vegetables than fruits.Las bromelias son monocotiledóneas que han sido consumidas por los nativos desde tiempos prehispánicos. Los principales usos de las bromelias como fuente alimenticia incluyen desde el fruto completo hasta una parte de la planta, consumidas como vegetales o en bebidas preparadas (fermentadas o no). Este trabajo incluye literatura local, observaciones personales y entrevistas abiertas a pobladores. Los resultados incluyen diez países y 24 especies de bromelias de las cuales se han registrado y descrito un uso tradicional alimenticio, de las cuales el 76.9% presenta un solo uso y el 23.0% dos usos diferentes, contrastando con una sola especie (Bromelia pinguin) que tiene tres usos diferentes. Estas plantas han sido consumidas, incluso en nuestros días, como vegetales (14 especies), para preparar bebidas (11 especies) y/o directamente como frutos (nueve especies). Es importante resaltar, que contrario a lo esperado, las bromelias son más consumidas en Latinoamérica como vegetales que como frutos

Bromeliads: traditional plant food in Latin America since prehispanic times

Bromeliads are monocots that have beenconsumed by natives in Latin Americasince pre-Hispanic times. The principalways bromeliads are used as food sourcesinclude the whole fruit or another part ofthe plant. They are eaten as a vegetableor prepared in beverages (fermented orunfermented). This study includes localliterature, personal observations and openinterviews with people who know aboutthe alimentary uses of bromeliads. Theresults cover ten countries and 24 speciesof bromeliads which have been reportedand described as traditional foodstuffs. Ofthese, 76.9% have only a single use and23.0% have two different uses. One species(Bromelia pinguin) has three different uses.Even in the present day these plants are stilleaten as vegetables (12 sp.), used to preparebeverages (11 sp.) and/or consumed directlyas fruits (nine sp.). It is important to note thatcontrary to expectations, in Latin Americabromeliads are consumed more as vegetablesthan fruits.Las bromelias son monocotiledóneas quehan sido consumidas por los nativos desdetiempos prehispánicos. Los principales usosde las bromelias como fuente alimenticiaincluyen desde el fruto completo hastauna parte de la planta, consumidascomo vegetales o en bebidas preparadas(fermentadas o no). Este trabajo incluyeliteratura local, observaciones personalesy entrevistas abiertas a pobladores. Losresultados incluyen diez países y 24 especiesde bromelias de las cuales se han registradoy descrito un uso tradicional alimenticio, delas cuales el 76.9% presenta un solo uso y el23.0% dos usos diferentes, contrastando conuna sola especie (Bromelia pinguin) que tienetres usos diferentes. Estas plantas han sidoconsumidas, incluso en nuestros días, comovegetales (14 especies), para preparar bebidas(11 especies) y/o directamente como frutos(nueve especies). Es importante resaltar, quecontrario a lo esperado, las bromelias sonmás consumidas en Latinoamérica comovegetales que como frutos

SINOPSIS DEL GÉNERO PITCAIRNIA (BROMELIACEAE) PARA EL ESTADO MÉRIDA, VENEZUELA

RESUMENEl género Pitcairnia ha sido poco estudiado en los Andes y a pesar de los recientes esfuerzos en las investigaciones sobre la familia Bromeliaceae aún faltan por descifrar aspectos taxonómicos y herramientas que faciliten la identificación. En este estudio se presenta la sinopsis del género Pitcairnia para el estado Mérida (Venezuela) incluyendo la descripción detallada de ocho especies, citas del material examinado, datos ecológicos y de floración, así como una clave para la determinación de las especies presentes en el estado. La mitad de las especies presenta algún tipo de endemismo, pues dos son endémicas de la región andina y dos son endémicas del estado.ABSTRACTThe genus Pitcairnia has been poor studied in the Andes and in spite of the recent efforts in the researchs of the family Bromeliaceae taxonomy and tools aspects still remain to be deciphered to facilitate identification. This study presents the synopsis of the genus Pitcairnia for Mérida State (Venezuela) including detailed description of eight species examined, blooming and ecological dates, as well as a key for the determination of the species present in Mérida. One half of the species has some type of endemism, two species are endemic to the Andean region and two are endemic to the State

The Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán (Hidalgo): An illustrated checklist of bromeliads and orchids and their high levels of Mexican endemisms

This study presents a list of species of the two most important families with epiphytic elements, Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae, from the Reserva de la Biosfera Barranca de Metztitlán (RBBM), the largest Reserve in Hidalgo, Mexico. Thirty-four species are included, 26 corresponding to species in three genera of bromeliads, and eight species in six genera of orchids. The new records represent 26.5% of the total listed in the area; nine of them are new records for the Reserve (RBBM) and one is new for Hidalgo State. This study reveals that endemism for both families is very important in the Reserve (55.88%), since it includes 13 Mexican bromeliads, of which two are endemic to Hidalgo and one to the Reserve, and three orchids, two endemic to Mexico and one to the Reserve. We found species with different types of relative abundance: rare (16) and occasional (7). Additionally, we include information about the category (IUCN, CITES, NOM-059-SEMARNAT) as well as uses reported in the literature for the species in the RBBM. The checklist is strictly based on information obtained from deposited herbarium specimens as well as from those collected during fieldwork. We suggest that a conservation plan (in situ and ex situ) for the RBBM is important and necessary. The predominant habit for both families is epiphytic (17 species); even though there are terrestrial (7) and saxicolous (2), and the remaining are facultative species (8). Nine species are included in some risk category. The present work is the most complete and updated list of Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae for this important natural area in the Mexican State of Hidalgo. However, more fieldwork is needed to document the biodiversity of the area in general and its flora in particular, as a way to highlight the importance of protected areas in preserving biodiversity

Morphometric analysis provides evidence for two traditionally defined species of the Tillandsia erubescens complex (Bromeliaceae)

Background and aims – A linear morphometric analysis of three taxa of the Tillandsia erubescens complex, composed of T. erubescens var. arroyoensis, T. erubescens var. erubescens, and T. erubescens var. patentibracteata, is presented to evaluate their circumscription. Additionally, their taxonomic rank as varieties or species is discussed considering the obtained results. Geographic distribution, the influence of climate, elevation, and geographic distance on morphological differences between the taxonomic entities is explored.Material and methods – Of a total of 110 herbarium specimens reviewed, 44 were measured. These were previously identified as T. erubescens var. arroyoensis, T. erubescens var. erubescens, or T. erubescens var. patentibracteata. Factor and cluster analyses were performed using 16 quantitative morphological characters. The resulting groups were considered as taxonomic entities supported by morphometric characters, and species distributions were plotted against Mexican biogeographic provinces. A single Mantel test was performed to evaluate the correlation between morphology and climatic variables, elevation, and geographic distance.Key results – The specimens referred to as T. erubescens var. arroyoensis were separated morphometrically from the other two varieties. The most important characters to differentiate T. erubescens var. arroyoensis from T. erubescens var. erubescens were total size, width and length of the leaf sheath and leaf blade, and the number of flowers. The non-overlapping geographical distribution of T. erubescens var. arroyoensis and T. erubescens var. erubescens supports their recognition as independent taxonomic entities. Our study did not support the separation between T. erubescens var. erubescens and T. erubescens var. patentibracteata, which is also reflected by their overlapping geographic distributions. Both precipitation and geographic distance were correlated with the morphological differences among the species.Conclusion – Our morphometric and geographical distribution study supports the recognition of T. arroyoensis and T. erubescens as different species, while no evidence was found to maintain T. erubescens var. erubescens and T. erubescens var. patentibracteata as different taxonomic entities. We provide a set of morphological characters that can be used to distinguish between T. arroyoensis and T. erubescens, including the leaf sheath and leaf blade width, and the number of flowers. Morphological characters agree with the geographic distribution of the studied taxa