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Issue: Vol. 756 No. 1: 12 May 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-05-12
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.756.1.4
Page range: 25-58
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Genomic and morphological evidence supports the segregation of two new species from Tillandsia myosura (T. subg. Diaphoranthema, Bromeliaceae)

Laboratorio de Sistemática de Plantas Vasculares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Instituto de Botánica Darwinion (CONICET-ANCEFN), San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico; Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico; Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Frankfurt, Germany; Senckenberg Research Institute and Nature Museum, Department of Botany and Molecular Evolution, Frankfurt, Germany
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
Departament of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Laboratorio de Botánica, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
cleistogamy epiphyte Myosura group plastid genome Southern Cone Tillandsioideae Monocots

Abstract

Morphological and molecular evidence, including phylogeny and plastome structural features, together with the geographic distribution and phenological data, strongly support the recognition of three distinct lineages within the traditional circumscription of Tillandsia myosura, here named T. myosura s.str. and two newly described species, T. cleistopetala and T. pachyphylla. Tillandsia myosura is redefined as a morphologically and ecologically narrower species endemic to Argentina (from the northwest to the central region), and closely related to T. andicola and T. retorta. Tillandsia cleistopetala sp. nov. instead occurs in Uruguay and central-eastern Argentina, showing an allopatric and ecologically distinct distribution compared to T. myosura s.str. Tillandsia cleistopetala sp. nov. is sister to T. crocata and is reproductively characterized by consistently cleistogamous flowers. Tillandsia pachyphylla sp. nov. is morphologically well differentiated from
T. myosura s.str. by several vegetative and reproductive characters. Tillandsia myosura s.str. and T. pachyphylla sp. nov. are partially sympatric but are phenologically differentiated. Tillandsia pachyphylla sp. nov. is distributed in central Bolivia and from northwestern to central Argentina and is part of a clade that includes T. castellanii, T. hirta, and T. mandonii. A taxonomic treatment of the two new species and T. myosura s.str. is presented, including detailed morphological descriptions, information on geographical distribution, habitat, phenology, and conservation status, along with representative photographs and illustrations of floral parts. A lectotype for Tillandsia nappii is designated.

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How to Cite

Rossado, A.J., Mendoza, C.G., Donadío, S., Vera-Paz, S.I., Díaz, D.D.D.C., Wanke, S., Salazar, G.A., Magallón, S., Barfuss, M.H. & Bonifacino, J.M. (2026) Genomic and morphological evidence supports the segregation of two new species from Tillandsia myosura (T. subg. Diaphoranthema, Bromeliaceae). Phytotaxa 756 (1): 25–58. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.756.1.4