Cytogenetics of Brazilian species of Bromeliaceae

This paper presents the mitotic chromosome numbers of 18 species of Bromeliaceae. The diploid number 2n = 50 was observed in Aechmea comata, A. caudata, A. correia‐araujoi, A. recurvata, A. marauensis, A. bicolor, A. pineliana, Hohenbergia catingae, H. blanchetti, Alcantarea imperialis, Al. nahoumi, Neoregelia tenebrosa, Nidularium lyman‐smithii, N. scheremetiewii, N. innocentii var. innocentii, and N. innocentii × Neoregelia johannis hybrid, whereas 2n = 34 was observed in Cryptanthus maritimus and C. warren‐loosei. All of the determinations presented in this study are previously unpublished, except A. comata and H. catingae. These results confirm x = 25 as the basic number for the family and x = 17 as a secondary basic number probably generated by decreasing dysploidy. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 189–193.