Population genetic structure of the rock outcrop species (Bromeliaceae): The role of pollination vs. seed dispersal and evolutionary implications.

Premise Of The Study: Inselbergs are terrestrial, island-like rock outcrop environments that present a highly adapted flora. The epilithic bromeliad is a dominant species on inselbergs in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. We conducted a population genetic analysis to test whether the substantial phenotypic diversity of could be explained by limited gene flow among populations and to assess the relative impact of pollen vs.

Molecular phylogeny of the Brazilian endemic genus Orthophytum (Bromelioideae, Bromeliaceae) and its implications on morphological character evolution.

The saxicolous genus Orthophytum (∼60 species, Bromeliaceae) is endemic to eastern Brazil and diversified in xeric habitats of the Atlantic Rainforest, Caatinga and campos rupestres. Within the genus, two main groups are discerned based on the presence or absence of a pedunculate inflorescence, which are further subdivided into several morphological subgroups. However, these systematic hypotheses have not yet been tested in a molecular phylogenetic framework.