Phylogenetic Relationships of Groups of Genera within the Subfamily Pitcairnioideae (Bromeliaceae)

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Abstract
The phylogenetic relationships among the sixteen genera of the subfamily Pitcairnioideae are resolved with the aid of cladistic methods. Two genera of Velloziaceae (Barbacenia, Vellozia) and three each from the bromeliad subfamilies Tillandsioideae (Glomeropitcairnia, Guzmania, Vriesea) and Bromelioideae (Hohenbergia, Neoregelia, and Orthophytum) were used individually to determine the polarity of the characters of Pitcairnioideae. The most parsimonious phylogenetic reconstruction suggests three monophyletic lineages within the subfamily. Brocchinia represents its own, perhaps ancient lineage; Ayensua, Connellia, Cottendorfia, Fosterella, Navia, Pepinia, Pitcairnia, and Steyerbromelia constitute the second monophyletic group; and Abromeitiella, Brewcaria, Deuterocohnia, Dyckia, Encholirium, Hechtia, and Puya the third. Together with the present day geographic distributions of taxa and the past environmental changes in the Neotropics, this study concludes that the subfamily has radiated from the Guayana Highlands to several geographical areas.