O gênero Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. (Bromeliaceae – Bromelioideae) no Estado Paraná, Brasil

Abstract

Aechmea Ruiz & Pav. is the largest genus in the subfamily Bromelioideae Burnett (Bromeliaceae), with about 250 species distributed from Mexico to southern Argentina. Some species has complex taxonomic delimitations. Accordingly, this study presents a taxonomic analisys of Aechmea in the Paraná State, South Brazil, provinding identification key, species descriptions, illustrations and comments on the geographical distribution and conservation status. It was found twelve Aechmea species belonging to four subgenera: A. pectinata Baker, A. ornata Baker and A. nudicaulis (L.) Griseb. (A. subg. Pothuava); A. bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker and A. triangularis L.B. Sm (A. subg. Macrochordion); A. distichantha Lem. (A. subg. Platyaechmea); A. recurvata (Klotzsch) L.B. Sm., A. gamosepala Wittm., A. cylindrata Lindm., A. coelestis (K. Koch) E. Morren, A. organensis Wawra, and A. caudata Lindm. (A. subg. Ortgiesia). Such species occur in two general patterns of geographic distribution: A. bromeliifolia, A. distichantha and A. recurvata can be found mainly on inland plateaus of Paraná, and all the other species are distributed from the coastal region to the west face of the Serra do Mar, except for A. nudicaulis also found in savanna relicts in the inlands of Paraná. Three species are endangered and two are vulnerable. Aechmea triangularis is citated for the first time for this state. Aechmea guaratubensis is proposed here as a new sinonim of A. recurvata.