Presents a synthesis of the extensive information available on the biology of Bromeliacea, a largely neotropical family of about 2700 described species. Reproductive and vegetative structure and related physiology, ecology and evolution are emphasized, rather than floristics and taxonomy.
1. Introduction; 2. Vegetative structure; 3. Reproductive structure; 4. Carbon and water balance; 5. Mineral nutrition; 6. Reproduction and life history with H. Luther and B. Bennett; 7. Ecology; 8. Relationships with fauna; 9. History and evolution with G. Brown and R. Terry; 10. Neoregelia subgenus Hylaeicum I. Ramirez; 11. Cryptanthus I. Ramirez; 12. Tillandsia and Racinaea W. Till; 13. Tillandsioideae W. Till; 14. Ethnobotany of Bromeliaceae B. Bennett; 15. Endangered Bromeliacea, M. Dimmitt; References; Index.
'Within the book you can find not just fascinating stories of adaptation but unusual facts such as the role played by members of the family in Star Trek, Sean Connery's character in Medicine Man and which species Henry Ford used to stuff the seats of his early cars!' Bulletin of the British Ecological Society '! an essential piece of literature. It is useful not only as a library reference, a standard text for a course on bromeliads, but for every bromeliad enthusiast, biologist or taxonomist who needs more information on the family.' J. R. Grant, Plant Systematics and Evolution