New genera and a new species in the “Cryptanthoid Complex” (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) based on the morphology of recently discovered species, seed anatomy, and improvements in molecular phylogeny

Abstract

The continuous refinement of the morphological, anatomical, and molecular studies on the genera of the “Cryptanthoid complex”, mainly considering the recently discovered outlier species, gave rise to new interpretations of species relationships. It reinforced the monophyly of the groups, and allowed the recognition of the new monotypic genus Siqueiranthus based on a morphologically unique endemic species from northeastern Brazil on the brink of extinction, as well as generic status for Krenakanthus and Orthocryptanthus previously conceived as subgenera of Orthophytum, with readjustments in the positioning of some species. An integrative approach with the combination of multiple traits and the critical assessment of the diagnostic characters proved to be useful for the establishment of the new monophyletic genera. A new unusual species of Orthophytum is also described and illustrated, and its phylogenetic relationships are discussed.