Pitcairnia azouryi

Martinelli & Forzza. Rev. bras. Bot. 29(4): 603 (-605). Sao Paulo 2006 by V D C Manhaes et al in Phytotaxa 245(1): 59-65. 2016

Introduction

Bromeliaceae is listed as one of the Angiosperm families with the greatest number of critically endangered (CR) species (Martinelli et al. 2013: 66). The justification for the classification of these species as critically endangered is based upon the existence of small populations, restricted geographic distributions and their occurrence in very specific environments (Forzza et al. 2013: 313). Among the 22 species of this genus occurring strictly in the Atlantic Forest, 17 are endemic to southeastern Brazil (Forzza et al. 2015). Of these 17 endemic species, only five have had their conservation status evaluated (Forzza et al. 2013:367-369). The lack of such information is not unique to Pitcairnia, or even to Bromeliaceae. About 20% of the world’s flora is poorly described (Giulietti et al. 2009). With this in mind, understanding a species’ geographical distribution is essential for the development of conservation strategies (Xu Hang 2008: 632). Read more.