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Desiccation tolerant plants in South America
1Botany Department, Monash University, 3168, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
South America
Area of Science:
- Botany
- Ecology
- Plant Physiology
Background:
- Velloziaceae family species in Minas Gerais, Brazil, are key components of South America's desiccation-tolerant flora.
- Desiccation tolerance is observed in certain grass species like Microchloa spp. and Tripogon spicatus.
- Desiccation-tolerant ferns in arid regions, excluding Anemia, share similarities with North American "resurrection" ferns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and describe desiccation-tolerant plant species in South America.
- To investigate the distribution and ecological significance of desiccation-tolerant flora.
- To explore potential desiccation-tolerant epiphytic fern flora in rainforest environments.
Main Methods:
- Field surveys and species identification in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Ecological assessments of grass and fern species.
- Comparative analysis of desiccation-tolerant flora across different regions.
Main Results:
- A significant concentration of Velloziaceae species, known for desiccation tolerance, was found in Minas Gerais.
- Two Microchloa species and Tripogon spicatus were identified as desiccation-tolerant grasses.
- Desiccation-tolerant ferns in dry areas are phylogenetically linked to North American counterparts, with Anemia as an exception.
Conclusions:
- Minas Gerais is a critical center for desiccation-tolerant plant diversity in South America.
- The ecological role of certain desiccation-tolerant grasses may be underestimated.
- Further research is needed to investigate the potential for desiccation-tolerant epiphytic ferns in rainforests.
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