Pitcairnioideae

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Pitcairnioideae
Pitcairnia grafii (TS) 1-00128.jpg
Pitcairnia grafii inflorescence
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Bromeliaceae
Subfamily: Pitcairnioideae
Genera

See text.

The Pitcairnioideae comprise the terrestrial subfamily of the bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) with over 1000 species in 16 genera. Unlike the many epiphytes and lithophytes which make up the rest of the family, with a few exceptions, all of the members of this subfamily are either terrestrial or saxicolous. Common to arid and high-altitude regions, this subfamily is considered to have the most ancient lineage, more closely resembling its grassy relatives than the exotic novelties represented in the other two subfamilies. The commonly cultivated genera from this group include Dyckia, Hechtia, Pitcairnia, and Puya.

Description[]

Most Pitcairnioideae leaves are fleshy with heavy spines on the edges, and resemble agave. Their blooms contain dry capsules with small, wingless seeds. Like most plants, and unlike most other bromeliads, this group has a developed root system to gather water and nutrients. Similarly, not all pitcairnioid leaves grow in an effective cup to catch water as is seen in the other families. Leaf trichomes are present in the Pitcairnioideae, but are not effective in gathering nutrients; the trichomes, however, can be sufficiently thick so as to provide a frost barrier essential to its survival (e.g. Puya laxa).

Genera[]

The 16 genera are:

Image Genus Number of living species
Brewcaria L.B.Sm., Steyerm. & H.Rob. 6
Brocchinia reducta Habitus Bln0906b.jpg Brocchinia Schult.f. ex Schult. & Schult.f. 20
Roraima Connellia quelchii.JPG Connellia N.E.Br. 6
Cottendorfia Schult.f. 1
Deuterocohnia lorentziana RBGK.JPG Deuterocohnia Mez 18
Dyckia platyphylla 4.jpg Dyckia Schult.f. 130
20120526 Encholirium horridum.jpg Encholirium Schult.f. 22
Fosterella penduliflora (JP) 06-0051 14.jpg Fosterella L.B.Sm. 30
Hechtia guatemalensis (TS) 1-00001.jpg Hechtia Klotzsch 52
Lindmania 38
Navia 93
20111226 Pepinia caricifolia.jpg Pepinia Brongn. ex André 57
Pitcairnia bifrons inflorescence detail.JPG Pitcairnia L'Hér. 331
Puya berteroana.jpg Puya Molina 219
Sequencia (L.B.Sm.) Givnish 1
Steyerbromelia L.B.Sm. 6

References[]

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