New Proposal of Epiphytic Bromeliaceae Functional Groups to Include Nebulophytes and Shallow Tanks

The Bromeliaceae family has been used as a model to study adaptive radiation due to its terrestrial, epilithic, and epiphytic habits with wide morpho-physiological variation. Functional groups described by Pittendrigh in 1948 have been an integral part of ecophysiological studies. In the current study, we revisited the functional groups of epiphytic bromeliads using a 204 species trait database sampled throughout the Americas. Our objective was to define epiphytic functional groups within bromeliads based on unsupervised classification, including species from the dry to the wet end of the Neotropics. We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis with 16 functional traits and a discriminant analysis, to test for the separation between these groups. Herbarium records were used to map species distributions and to analyze the climate and ecosystems inhabited. The clustering supported five groups, C₃ tank and CAM tank bromeliads with deep tanks, while the atmospheric group (according to Pittendrigh) was divided into nebulophytes, bromeliads with shallow tanks, and bromeliads with pseudobulbs. The two former groups showed distinct traits related to resource (water) acquisition, such as fog (nebulophytes) and dew (shallow tanks). We discuss how the functional traits relate to the ecosystems inhabited and the relevance of acknowledging the new functional groups.

Two new species of Trichoglossum (Geoglossaceae, Ascomycota) from south Mexico

Two new species of Trichoglossum are described from south Mexico based on morphological and molecular evidence. Trichoglossumcaespitosum is characterized by the caespitose ascomata, rough and coiled paraphyses and the ascospores with 9-11 septa. Trichoglossumtropicale is characterized by the capitate ascomata, clavate and straight paraphyses and the ascospores with 10-12 septa. Both species grow in the tropical forests of the Yucatán peninsula. Here we provide descriptions and photographs for these species, together with a phylogenetic analyses based on the DNA sequences of nuc rDNA (ITS region and 28S gene) and a comparative table for the species known for America.

Revision of the genus Restingomyces, including two new species from Mexico

To document sequestrate fungal diversity in American tropical regions, we performed a series of field surveys in southeastern Mexico and discovered two new species in the phalloid genus Restingomyces (Trappeaceae, Phallales). Here, we describe them based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) subunit 6 and nuc 28S rDNA. Restingomyces guzmanianus is characterized by the brownish peridium, yellowish brown gleba, and ellipsoid basidiospores, whereas R. yaaxtax is characterized by the white peridium, pale green gleba, and small ellipsoid basidiospores. Both species occur in medium-statured tropical dry forest. The original diagnosis of the genus Restingomyces is emended to include these novel species. Illustrations are provided.