Bromeliaceae
Profile of an Adaptive Radiation

This book covers bromeliad biology, rather than cultivation.

David H. Benzing (Author), B. Bennett (Contributions by), G. Brown (Contributions by), M. Dimmitt (Contributions by), H. Luther (Contributions by), I. Ramirez (Contributions by), R. Terry (Contributions by), W. Till (Contributions by)

9780521430319, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 April 2000

710 pages, 114 b/w illus. 56 tables
23.5 x 16 x 4.7 cm, 1.23 kg

'… an essential piece of literature. It is useful not only as a library reference, a standard text for a course on bromeliads, but for every bromeliad enthusiast, biologist or taxonomist who needs more information on the family.' J. R. Grant, Plant Systematics and Evolution

This book, first published in 2000, presents a synthesis of the extensive information available on the biology of Bromeliacea, a largely neotropical family of about 2700 described species. Reproductive and vegetative structure and related physiology, ecology and evolution are emphasized, rather than floristics and taxonomy. Guiding questions include: why is this family inordinately successful in arboreal (epiphytic) and other typically stressful habitats and also so important to extensive fauna beyond pollinators and frugivores in the forest canopy? Extraordinary and sometimes novel mechanisms that mediate water balance, tolerance for high and low exposures, and mutualisms with ants have received much study and allow interesting comparisons among plant taxa and help explain why members of this taxon exhibit more adaptive and ecological variety than most other families of flowering plants. This volume concentrates on function and underlying mechanisms, thus will round out a literature that otherwise mostly ignores basic biology in favour of taxonomy and horticulture.

1. Introduction
2. Vegetative structure
3. Reproductive structure
4. Carbon and water balance
5. Mineral nutrition
6. Reproduction and life history with H. Luther and B. Bennett
7. Ecology
8. Relationships with fauna
9. History and evolution with G. Brown and R. Terry
10. Neoregelia subgenus Hylaeicum I. Ramírez
11. Cryptanthus I. Ramírez
12. Tillandsia and Racinaea W. Till
13. Tillandsioideae W. Till
14. Ethnobotany of Bromeliaceae B. Bennett
15. Endangered Bromeliacea, M. Dimmitt
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Botany & plant sciences [PST], Evolution [PSAJ]