Bromeliaceae: Profile of an Adaptive Radiation

ISBN-13: 9780521430319 / Angielski / Twarda / 2000 / 710 str.

David H. Benzing; B. Bennett; G. Brown

Opis

This book presents a synthesis of the extensive information available on the biology of Bromeliacea, a largely neotropical family of about 2700 described species. The author emphasizes reproductive and vegetative structure, related physiology, ecology, and evolution, rather than floristics and taxonomy. Guiding questions include: Why is this family inordinately successful in arboreal (epiphytic) and other typically stressful habitats and why is this family 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 it will round out a literature that otherwise mostly ignores basic biology in favor of taxonomy and horticulture.

Recenzje

'… 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

Spis treści

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.