Diversity and conservation status of bromeliads from Serra da Piedade, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The Espinhaço Mountain Range in Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil is a center of endemism of the Bromeliaceae, mainly in campo rupestre montane vegetation that grows under rigorous edapho-climatic conditions. This study sought to improve our knowledge of the Bromeliaceae from Serra da Piedade in the extreme southern portion of the Espinhaço Mountain Range where ironstone outcrops predominate. Conservation status and spatial distribution of these plants were analyzed as well as floristic similarities with other regions with rocky outcrops. Twenty-five bromeliad species were found in Serra da Piedade, with the subfamily Tillandsioideae being the best represented. Twenty-seven percent of the species were exclusive to campo rupestre environments, while 73% occurred both on outcrops and in forest habitats. The bromeliads in the study area merit special attention as two species are considered vulnerable (Racinaea aerisincola and Vriesea minarum), five are endangered, and three are critically endangered. Low Jaccard index values indicated dissimilarities between the bromeliad floras in different localities of quartzite and ironstone outcrops within the Espinhaço Mountain Range. Serra da Piedade has a distinct bromeliad flora that is threatened by mining activities and illegal harvesting and requires immediate measures to help guarantee conservation.

Full text

Abstract
The Espinhaço Mountain Range in Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil is a center of endemism
of the Bromeliaceae, mainly in campo rupestre montane vegetation that grows under rigorous edapho-
climatic conditions. This study sought to improve our knowledge of the Bromeliaceae from Serra da
Piedade in the extreme southern portion of the Espinhaço Mountain Range where ironstone outcrops
predominate. Conservation status and spatial distribution of these plants were analyzed as well as floristic
similarities with other regions with rocky outcrops. Twenty-five bromeliad species were found in Serra
da Piedade, with the subfamily Tillandsioideae being the best represented. Twenty-seven percent of the
species were exclusive to campo rupestre environments, while 73% occurred both on outcrops and in
forest habitats. The bromeliads in the study area merit special attention as two species are considered
vulnerable (Racinaea aerisincola and Vriesea minarum), five are endangered, and three are critically
endangered. Low Jaccard index values indicated dissimilarities between the bromeliad floras in different
localities of quartzite and ironstone outcrops within the Espinhaço Mountain Range. Serra da Piedade
has a distinct bromeliad flora that is threatened by mining activities and illegal harvesting and requires
immediate measures to help guarantee conservation.
Key-words: conservation, campos rupestres, ironstone outcrops, Bromeliaceae.
Resumo
A Cadeia do Espinhaço em Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil, é reconhecida como centro de endemismo de
Bromeliaceae, principalmente nos campos rupestres, onde as condições edafo-climáticas são severas. O
objetivo deste estudo foi estender o conhecimento sobre as Bromeliaceae da Serra da Piedade localizada
no extremo sul da Cadeia do Espinhaço onde predomina a ocorrência de afloramentos ferruginosos. O
estado de conservação e a distribuição espacial foram analisados, bem como, a similaridade florística
de bromélias entre diferentes localidades com afloramentos rochosos. Na Serra da Piedade foram
encontradas 25 espécies, sendo a subfamília Tillandsioideae a mais representativa. Dentre as espécies,
27% são exclusivas de campos rupestres e 73% ocorreram tanto nos afloramentos rochosos quanto
nos habitats florestais. As espécies de bromélias na área de estudo necessitam de muita atenção, pois
duas espécies estão vulneráveis (Racinaea aerisincola e Vriesea minarum), cinco espécies em perigo
e três espécies em perigo crítico de extinção. Os baixos valores do índice de Jaccard apontaram uma
dissimilaridade entre a flora de bromélias de diferentes localidades com afloramentos quartzíticos e
ferruginosos da Cadeia do Espinhaço. A Serra da Piedade apresenta uma flora de bromélias exclusiva,
a qual está ameaçada pela mineração e extrativismo, sendo necessária uma ação imediata para sua
conservação.
Palavras-chave: conservação, campos rupestres, afloramentos ferruginosos, Bromeliaceae.
Diversity and conservation status of bromeliads from Serra da Piedade,
Minas Gerais, Brazil
1
Diversidade e estado de conservação das bromélias da Serra da Piedade, Minas Gerais, Brasil
Andréa Rodrigues Marques
2,5
, José Pires de Lemos Filho
3
& Rubens Custódio da Mota
4
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
http://rodriguesia.jbrj.gov.br
1
Part of the Doctoral Thesis of the first author developed in Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wildlife Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de
Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
2
CEFET/MG, Depto. Engenharia Ambiental, Av. Amazonas 5253, 30480-000, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
3
UFMG, ICB, Depto. Botânica, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-110, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
4
Instituto Cultural Inhotim, R. B 20, 35460-000, Brumadinho, MG, Brazil.
5
Corresponding author: andrearmg@gmail.com

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Marques, A.R., Filho, J.P.L. & Mota, R.C.
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
Introduction
The Espinhaço Mountain Range extends
with a N-S orientation for approximately 1100
km through the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia,
where it is known as the Chapada Diamantina
Range (Harley 1995). The unique vegetation there,
known as campos rupestres (rupestrian vegetation
on rocky outcrops), typically grows at altitudes
above 800-900 m and is a very important habitat
for many species of the Brazilian fauna and flora,
especially the plant family Bromeliaceae (Versieux
& Wendt 2007).
Campo rupestre vegetation in the Espinhaço
Mountain Range is a mosaic of various distinct
plant communities with different floristic affinities
and it is known to be a center of diversity and
endemism for 30% of its flora, with many rare
plants (Harley 1995; Giulietti et al. 1987, 2000,
2005; Alves et al. 2007; Conceição et al. 2007;
Jacobi et al. 2007; Rapini et al. 2008). It is found
mainly on quartzite/sandstone outcrops within the
Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and Caatinga (dryland)
biomes (Conceição et al. 2007; Martinelli 2007;
Scarano 2007; Alves & Kolbek 2009), comprising
dense herbaceous vegetation with low trees
where the soils are deeper; riparian forests occur
along watercourses, and forest patches, known as
“capões”, occur on hillsides and on hilltops (Pirani
et al. 1994; Versieux & Wendt 2007; Versieux et
al. 2010).
However, in the extreme southern portion
of the Espinhaço Mountain Range, this vegetation
type is associated with iron oxide deposits known
as canga (Rizzini 1997, Jacobi & Carmo 2008)
in a region called the Quadrilátero Ferrífero
(Iron Quadrilateral). These ironstone outcrops are
extremely rigorous for plant establishment, with
hard substrate; thin, acidic, dry and nutrient poor
soils (Haley 1995; Giulietti et al. 1997; Sano &
Almeida 1998), with high levels of heavy metals
(Bueno 1992; Teixeira & Lemos-Filho 2002).
Climatic conditions, such as a high incidence of UV
light, high diurnal temperature variations, heavy
winds, and low relative humidity likewise make
plant growth more difficult (Giulietti et al. 1997).
The Serra da Piedade, located in the Iron
Quadrilateral, at the Minas Gerais portion of the
Espinhaço Mountain Range, is reported as a priority
area for biodiversity conservation (MMA, 2000).
Minas Gerais is one of the most important areas
in Brazil for endemic bromeliads (Versieux &
Wendt 2007; Versieux et al. 2008, 2010; Versieux
2011), corresponding to almost 9% of the total
number of species for the entire family. There is
an urgent need for effective regional conservation
strategies that can help protect and conserve the
local biological heritage, especially in the Iron
Quadrilateral– which is subject to open pit mining
(Jacobi et al. 2011). Within this context, we posed
the following questions: (1) how many bromeliad
species grow in Serra da Piedade, and what local
vegetation are they associated with? (2) what are
the conservation status and spatial distributions of
the bromeliad species found in this region? (3) is
the bromeliad flora of Serra da Piedade comparable
to the flora from other locations on rocky outcrops
of the Espinhaço Mountain Range?
Material and Methods
Serra da Piedade is located in the southeastern
region of the Espinhaço Mountain Range (Fig. 1a)
within the municipality of Caeté (19
o
48’ – 19°50’
S; 43°39’ – 43
o
42’ W), bordering the metropolitan
region of Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais ) in the Iron
Quadrilateral (Fig.1b). Serra da Piedade (maximum
altitude 1746 m) is largely composed of itabirite,
quartz, and gneiss, but areas of iron-bearing rocks
(canga) appear at about 1200 m (Scliar 1992). Its
most significant formation is canga (Brandão &
Gavilanes 1990), a Brazilian term for ironstone
islands on mountaintops consisting of banded-iron
formations. After intense tectonic events in the
Proterozoic period, these formations were folded
and underwent metamorphosis, creating itabirites
(metamorphosed iron-formation composed of iron
oxides, silica and quartz). Weathering throughout
the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Tertiary periods
resulted in the in situ formation of canga by
cementing fissures containing itabirite and hematite
with other minerals, particularly limolite (Scliar
1992; Jacobi et al. 2007).
The regional climate is high-altitude
subtropical (Bueno 1992). The average temperature
of the coldest months (generally in July) falls
below 18°C, with the possibility of some frost at
the highest altitudes, and averages for the hottest
months are always below 22°C. In relation to
rainfall, Serra da Piedade shows two distinct
periods: a rainy season (between November and
March) and a dry season (between May and August)
(Marques & Lemos-Filho 2008). The highest
rainfall occurs from December to February, with
approximately half of the total annual precipitation
being compressed into these few months (annual

Diversity and conservation of bromeliads in Minas Gerais
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
245
precipitation above 1500 mm) (Bueno 1992).
The waters that flow from this range form the
Velhas River subbasin, which is part of the larger
São Francisco River basin (Warming & Ferri
1973). Winds are usually from the southwest and
southeast, and clouds frequently cover the slopes
and mountain peaks (Bueno 1992).
Floristic data was obtained from field work
in 35 random areas of about 300 m
2
each at well-
preserved sites along an altitudinal gradient (Fig.
1c) and from the bromeliad collections available
in the BHCB, HB, R, SP herbaria. During the field
work, information about habitat, geographical
coordinates and approximate elevation range of
each species (using a GPS) were noted to evaluate
the spatial distribution of the bromeliads. Voucher
specimens were photographed in their habitat
and then collected, dried and included in the
BHCB herbaria. All of the study areas (with the
exception of two points) were sampled within the
limits of the Santuário Nossa Senhora da Piedade
Reserve, which is protected as a national and state
historical/artistic preservation site. The area is an
Environmental Protection Area as well as a Natural
Monument (according to state law n°15,178/04 of
the Minas Gerais State Constitution of 1989).
The following characteristics were noted
for each bromeliad species identified during the
study: (a) vegetation type in which it occurred in
Serra da Piedade: semideciduous montane forest,
altitudinal cloud forest, or campo rupestre (open
grassy savanna and rocky outcrop vegetation)
(Fig. 1d); (b) geographic distribution based on
the Flora Neotropica (Smith & Downs 1974,
1977, 1979) and on data compiled by Versieux &
Wendt (2006): widely distributed (if the species
a
b
c
d
1
2
3
Figure 1 – Map showing: Espinhaço Mountain Range (EMR) a. Serra da Piedade Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The
dark areas correspond to altitudes above 1000 m in EMR, adapted from Vasconcelos & Lombardi (2001); b. areas of iron
formations (itabirite, dark areas) in the Iron Quadrilateral, adapted from Pires (1995); c. location of 35 areas sampled:
border of the Santuário Nossa Senhora da Piedade Reserve ( ), position of the altitudinal profile ( — ), and sample area
(O). d. types of vegetation found inside the reserve: altitudinal cloud forest (1), montane semideciduous forest (2) and
campo rupestre (3).

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Marques, A.R., Filho, J.P.L. & Mota, R.C.
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
is distributed over various regions of Brazil); of
limited distribution (if the species is limited to a
single region); or endemic (if the species occurs
only in a single state); (c) occurrence in the different
biomes in Minas Gerais (Versieux & Wendt 2006;
Martinelli 2007): Cerrado (which covers portions
of the central western and northeastern regions
of the state), Atlantic Rainforest (which occupies
the eastern, southeastern and southern portions),
or Caatinga (which is found in northern Minas
Gerais); (d) apparent abundance at Serra da
Piedade: common (appears in various vegetation
types); occasional (common in only one or two
vegetation types); rare (population observed in only
one vegetation type and in a particular region of
the mountains); or very rare (only a few individuals
observed in one vegetation type); (e) conservation
status of the species in Serra da Piedade (sensu
IUCN 2001) and in Minas Gerais (Versieux &
Wendt 2007): least concern (LC), vulnerable (VU),
endangered (EN), and critically endangered (CR).
The conservation status of the bromeliad species at
Serra da Piedade was determined based on direct
observations following the D criteria of the IUCN
(2001): very small or restricted populations – D1
(estimated population size), and populations with
very restricted areas or occurring at very few
sites – D2.
To determine similarity of the bromeliad
flora at the study site in Serra da Piedade to other
regions in the southern portion of the Cadeia do
Espinhaço Mountain Range, species richness of
bromeliads was compared to that of other localities
with rocky outcrops: (a) areas dominated by quartz/
sandstone formations – Serra do Cipó (Forzza &
Wanderley 1998, Santos 2009, Coffani-Nunes et
al. 2010), Serra do Ambrósio (Pirani et al. 1994),
Serra da Bocaina (Pirani et al. 2003), Parque
Estadual (PE) do Pico do Itambé (Versieux 2008),
and Parque Estadual do Rio Preto (Versieux
et al. 2010); (b) areas with quartz/sandstone
and ironstone formations – Parque Estadual do
Itacolomi (Coser et al. 2010) and Serra do Itabirito
Range (Teixeira 2008); (c) areas dominated by
ironstone formations – Parque Estadual do Rola
Moça (Garçoni et al. 2010). The Jaccard similarity
index and UPGMA clustering method were
employed in order to identify floristic similarities
between Serra da Piedade and other localities
using Multivariate Statistical Package 3.0 software
(MVSP). Morphospecies or unidentified taxa were
excluded from the analyses.
Results and Discussion
The bromeliad flora of Serra da Piedade
includes 25 species and 10 genera (Tab. 1)
distributed among the subfamilies Bromelioideae
(Aechmea Ruiz & Pav., Billbergia Thunb.,
Bromelia L., Cryptanthus Otto & A. Dietr. and
Neoregelia L.B. Sm.), Pitcairnioideae (Dyckia
Schult. & Schult.f. and Pitcairnia L'Hér.) (Fig. 2),
and Tillandsioideae (Racinaea M.A. Spencer &
L.B. Sm., Tillandsia L. and Vriesea Lindl.) (Figs.
3 and 4). The best represented subfamily in the
area was Tillandsioideae (52% of all species). Six
Tillandsioideae species were restricted to forest
habitats (46%), among which R. aerisincola and
V. lubbersii were encountered exclusively in
altitudinal cloud forest, and T. geminiflora and T.
recurvata only in semideciduous montane forests
(Tab. 1). The other species occurred in both forest
habitats and on rocky outcrops (38%), except
for V. crassa and V. minarum, which were only
encountered in campo rupestre vegetation.
Most Tillandsioideae species have ample
distribution ranges in Brazil, except for V. crassa
and V. pardalina, which are found in Minas Gerais
and Rio de Janeiro states, and V. minarum, which
is endemic to Minas Gerais (Tab. 1). Although
most tillandsioid bromeliads are found in forest
habitats in Serra da Piedade, all species can also
be found on rocky outcrops in Minas Gerais
(Versieux & Wendt 2006). Vriesea crassa and
V. minarum (15%) are restricted to these areas,
although 85% of tillandsioid bromeliads can be
found in the Atlantic Rainforest biome (Tab. 1).
Tillandsioideae species probably use forest habitats
as long distance dispersal corridors that allow
them to reach isolated forest areas within the open
campo rupestre vegetation, principally during
the dry season – which is the dispersal period for
most Tillandsia and Vriesea species (Marques &
Lemos-Filho 2008). Six tillandsioid bromeliads are
known to occur in the Cerrado biome (46%) but
only Tillandsia recurvata is found in the Caatinga
biome (Tab. 1).
Comparing species proportions according
to their subfamilies, Bromelioideae is the second
richest taxon, with Cryptanthus schwackeanus
and Neoregelia bahiana being restricted to rocky
outcrops amidst campo rupestre vegetation in Serra
da Piedade (Tab. 1). Four species occur only in
forest habitats (57%), with Bromelia antiacantha
being found only in altitudinal cloud forest, and

Diversity and conservation of bromeliads in Minas Gerais
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
247
Vegetation
type
Spatial
distribution
Altitude
(m)
Geographical
distribution
Biome
(MG)
CC
(MG)
CC
(AS)
Voucher material
Bromelioideae
Aechmea lamarchei Mez
S r 1250-1300 Narrow RF LC EN Mota, R.C. 325 (BHCB)
Aechmea nudicaulis (L.) Griseb.
S/A/R c 1250-1700 Wide RF LC LC BHCB43757
Billbergia amoena (Lood.) Lindl.
S r 1250-1300 Wide RF LC EN Mota, R.C. 339 (BHCB)
Billbergia distachia (Vell.) Mez
S
r 1250-1300 Wide RF
LC EN BHCB 53694
Bromelia antiacantha Bertol.
A rr 1600-1700 Wide RF LC CR No voucher
Cryptanthus schwackeanus Mez
C r 1600-1700 Endemic (MG) C VU EN Mota, R.C. 285 (BHCB)
Neoregelia bahiana (Ule) L.B.Sm.
C o 1600-1700 Narrow C LC LC Mota, R.C. 330 (BHCB)
Tillandsioideae
Racinaea aerisincola (Mez)M.A.Spencer. & L.B.Sm.
A rr 1637 Wide RF LC VU BHCB 53510
Tillandsia gardneri Lindl.
S/A o 1400-1700 Wide RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 223(BHCB)
Tillandsia geminiora Brongn.
S o 1250-1300 Wide C/RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 356 (BHCB)
Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L.
S o 1250-1700 Wide
C/RF
CA
LC LC Mota, R.C. 286 (BHCB)
Tillandsia stricta Sol.
S/C o 1400-1700 Wide C/RF LC LC Lombardi, J.A. 446(BHCB)
Tillandsia tenuifolia L.
S/C o 1400-1700 Wide C/RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 224 (BHCB)
Table 1 – Bromeliads of the Serra da Piedade and their habitat, altitude, spatial and geographical distribution, biome and conservation category (CC) in Minas Gerais
(MG) and in the study area (AS). Vegetation type: montane semideciduous forest (S), altitudinal cloud forest (A), campo rupestre (R); Spatial distribution: common (c),
occasional (o), rare (r) and very rare (rr); Biome: Caatinga (CA), Cerrado (C), Atlantic Rainforest (RF); Conservation Category: least concern (LC), vulnerable (VU),
endangered (EN) and critically endangered (CR). * Not found.

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Marques, A.R., Filho, J.P.L. & Mota, R.C.
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
Vegetation
type
Spatial
distribution
Altitude
(m)
Geographical
distribution
Biome
(MG)
CC
(MG)
CC
(AS)
Voucher material
Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.
A/C o 1600-1700 Wide RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 222 (BHCB)
Vriesea bituminosa Wawra
A/C o 1600-1700 Wide RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 327 (BHCB)
Vriesea crassa Mez
C r 1600-1700 Narrow C VU CR Mota, R.C. 240 (BHCB)
Vriesea friburgensis Mez
S/A/C c 1400-1700 Wide C/RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 284 (BHCB)
Vriesea lubbersii (Baker) E. Morren
A rr 1664 Wide RF LC CR Mota, R.C. 344 (BHCB)
Vriesea minarum L.B.Sm.
C c 1600-1700 Endemic (MG) C EN VU BHCB4337
Vriesea pardalina Mez.
S/A o 1250-1700 Narrow RF LC LC Mota, R.C. 268 (BHCB)
Pitcairnioideae
Dyckia densiora Schult. & Schult. f.
* * * Endemic (MG) C VU * Leme, E.M.C. 4249 (HB)
Dyckia minarum Mez
* * * Wide C LC * Hoehne, F.C. 6428 (R)
Dyckia saxatilis Mez
C r 1600-1700 Wide C/RF LC EN Mota, R.C. 266 (BHCB)
Dyckia simulans L.B. Sm.
* * * Endemic (MG) C EN * Foster, M.B. 570 (SP)
Pitcairnia curvidens L.B. Sm. & Read
C r 1600-1700 Endemic (MG) RF LC LC BHCB 40271

Diversity and conservation of bromeliads in Minas Gerais
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
249
Figure 2 – Bromelioideae subfamily species – a. Aechmea lamarchei; b. A. nudicaulis; c. Billbergia amoena, d.
Bromelia antiacantha; e. Cryptanthus schawackeanus; f. Neoregelia bahiana; Overall appearance of species of the
Pitcairnioideae subfamily – g. Dyckia saxatilis; h. Pitcairnia curvidens.
a b
c
d
e
f
g h

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Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
Aechmea lamarchei, Billbergia amoena and B.
distachia in semideciduous montane forest (Tab.
1). Aechmea nudicaulis was observed in all of the
vegetation types in the mountains and is known
to have wide geographic distribution throughout
Brazil, together with Billbergia distachia and
Bromelia antiacantha. The remaining species
are endemic to Minas Gerais (Tab.1), except for
Neoregelia bahiana (which also occurs in Bahia
state) and A. lamarchei (which also occurs in
Espírito Santo state). As with the Tillandsioideae
species, Bromelioideae species also predominated
in forest habitats (71%) and many can be found in the
Atlantic Rainforest biome (Tab.1). The subfamily
Pitcarnioideae had the fewest representatives in
Serra da Piedade. Dyckia saxatilis and Pitcairnia
Figure 3 – Tillandsioideae subfamily species – a. Racinaea aerisincola; b. Tillandsia gardneri; c. T. geminiflora;
d. T. recurvata; e. T. stricta; f. T. tenuifolia; g. T. usneoides.
a
b
c
d
e f g

Diversity and conservation of bromeliads in Minas Gerais
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
251
Figure 4 – Tillandsioideae subfamily species – a. Vriesea bituminosa; b. V. crassa; c. V. friburguensis; d. V. lubbersii;
e. V. minarum; f. V. pardalina.
a b
c
d
e f

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Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
curvidens were both found in campo rupestre sites
in the mountains, but can occur in the Atlantic
Rainforest biome (Tab. 1). Dyckia densiflora, D.
minarum, and D. simulans, deposited in the HB,
R and SP herbaria, respectively, were not found
during our surveys.
Considering all of the bromeliad species
encountered in Serra da Piedade, 27% were restricted
to campo rupestre sites, 45% to forest habitats,
and 28% were found in both habitats. As such,
and regardless of a restricted occurrence or not of
bromeliads in forest habitats, the majority of species
(73%) grow in semideciduous montane forest and/
or altitudinal cloud forests of Serra da Piedade, these
being the sites of greatest species richness. Based on
the records of Versieux & Wendt (2006), 77% of the
Bromeliaceae species found in Serra da Piedade are
also encountered in the Atlantic Rainforest and on
rocky outcrops throughout Minas Gerais. Campo
rupestre vegetation is traditionally associated with the
Cerrado biome (Martinelli 2007), although Versieux
& Wendt (2007) pointed out that larger numbers of
bromeliads can be found in Atlantic Rainforest and
campo rupestre areas than in Cerrado and campo
rupestre vegetation in the southern portion of the
Espinhaço Mountain Range. Likewise, our data
indicates that the Bromeliaceae flora of Serra da
Piedade has a greater connection with the Atlantic
Rainforest than with Cerrado, and that these
mountains represent a typical transition zone between
forest habitats and campo rupestre vegetation.
Many bromeliads have been harvested for
commercial purposes from Serra da Piedade,
and this history of anthropogenic pressure argues
for special attention to conservation efforts in
the region. In Minas Gerais, five species are
considered endemic, two species endangered
(Vriesea minarum and Dyckia simulans), and three
species are classified as vulnerable (Cryptanthus
schwackeanus, V. crassa and D. densiflora) (Tab.
1) (sensu Versieux & Wendt 2007). In the study
area, however, five bromeliads are endangered, and
the situation of Bromelia antiacantha, V. lubbersii
and V. crassa is critical – as they are only found
at high-altitude sites (Tab. 1). The populations of
C. schwackeanus are scattered over small rocky-
soil sites of campo rupestre vegetation and are
therefore endangered within Serra da Piedade.
Only a few individuals of V. crassa and V. lubbersii
were found among the Tillandsioideae species,
and they appeared to be critically threatened (Tab.
1) – suffering from heavy harvesting pressure due
to their attractive rosettes and colorful flowers (A.
Marques, personal observation). Small populations
of Racinaea aerisincola and V. minarum are
vulnerable, principally due to the fact that their
distribution is restricted to altitudinal cloud forests
and campo rupestre vegetation, respectively, in
Serra da
Piedade
PE do
Itacolomi
Serra do
Cipó
Serra do
Ambrósio
Serra da
Bocaina
PE Rola
Moça
PE
Itambé
Serra de
Itabirito
PE do Rio
Preto
Serra da
Piedade
* * * * * * * * *
PE do
Itacolomi
18.9 * * * * * * * *
Serra
do Cipó
23.8 16.1 * * * * * * *
Serra do
Ambrósio
10.0 3.8 13.0 * * * * * *
Serra da
Bocaina
13.5 9.1 16.7 19.0 * * * * *
PE
Rola Moça
20.5 13.9 15.4 3.4 11.4 * * * *
PE Itambé 21.2 6.3 13.3 0 10.3 12,1 * * *
Serra de
Itabirito
20.7 16.0 16.7 5.9 12.5 23.1 25.0 * *
PE do Rio
Preto
20.4 8.2 22.5 10.5 27.5 9,8 14.0 15.8 *
Table 2 – Similarity values between the inventoried areas for the Bromeliaceae family in the Minas Gerais State
(values presented as percentage).

Diversity and conservation of bromeliads in Minas Gerais
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
253
Serra da Piedade (Tab. 1). Vriesea minarum is
under constant threat of extinction in Minas Gerais
due to the fact that its populations are restricted to
canga sites that are mined for iron ore. Versieux
(2011) stressed the necessity to protect these areas
officially and to develop proactive guidelines that
would guarantee the conservation of this species
before authorizing mining activities. No specimens
of D. densiflora, D. minarum, or D. simulans were
encountered in any of the surveys.
In comparing the bromeliad flora of Serra
da Piedade to other localities (Tab. 2), only the
flora of Serra do Cipó showed greater species
richness (Fig. 5). Jaccard similarity indices of
the different sites varied from 0 to 25% (Tab.
2). According to cluster analyses and similarity
indices, the bromeliad flora of Serra da Piedade is
more similar to Serra do Cipó (23.8%), followed
by Parque Nacional do Itambé (21.2%), Serra do
Itabirito, PE do Rola Moça and PE do Rio Preto
(20.7; 20.5 and 20.4% respectively) sites – which are
located in different regions of the Iron Quadrilateral
on ironstone outcrops or in quartz formations. In
spite of the fact that the bromeliad flora of Serra
da Piedade appears in the cladogram as a member
of the group of quartz/sandstone localities (Fig. 6),
floristic similarity was actually very low. These
values reinforce the idea of floristic individuality in
each area is independent of the exact composition
of the substrate. Serra do Cipó (15 species), PE Rio
Preto (10 species), followed by PE Rola Moça (8
species), PE Itacolomi and PE do Itambé (7 species)
had proportionally fewer species in common with
Serra da Piedade, which explains the dissimilarities
of these regions (Fig. 5). Similarity values below
50% in terms of the bromeliad flora in diverse areas
of the Espinhaço Mountain Range were reported
by Versieux et al. (2010). According to Versieux
& Wendt (2007), this same pattern was observed
with all of the bromeliads in Minas Gerais, and is
apparently due to the presence of elevated numbers
of endemic species or species with restricted
geographic distribution. Low floristic similarities
even in neighboring locations have previously
been reported in the Espinhaço Mountain Range
(Haley 1995; Zappi et al. 2003; Conceição et al.
2007; Azevedo & Berg 2007; Mourão & Stehmann
2007; Rapini et al. 2008; Alves & Kolbek 2009).
Special attention should be given to Serra da
Piedade in the Iron Quadrilateral, as it is located
very close to densely inhabited urban centers and
is at risk of environmental degradation, mining,
wildfires and vandalism, and its diversity (including
altitudinal cloud and semideciduous montane
forests, open grasslands, and rocky outcrops)
should be protected. We believe that the information
concerning species richness, endemism, and the
conservation status of the bromeliads described in
this text will argue for proactive measures to protect
and conserve this region.
Acknowledgements
This paper is part of the PhD thesis of
ARM, and was undertaken at the Graduate
Program in Ecology, Conservation and Wild
Life Management at the Federal University of
Minas Gerais. We acknowledge grant support
from CNPq (National Council for Scientific
and Technological Development) and Fapemig
(Minas Gerais Research Support Foundation)
and gratefully thank Leonardo M. Versieux for
reviewing and confirming some of the bromeliad
species identifications.
Figure 6 - Dendrogram showing similarity between the
inventoried areas at the Espinhaço Mountain Range in
Minas Gerais based only Bromeliaceae taxa. (1) canga,
(2) quartz/canga (3) quartz substrate.
Figure 5 - Comparative data of Bromeliaceae taxa
richness and common species for the Serra da Piedade
Range.

254
Marques, A.R., Filho, J.P.L. & Mota, R.C.
Rodriguésia 63(2): 243-255. 2012
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Artigo recebido em 03/08/2010. Aceito para publicação em 07/03/2012.