Encholirium agavoides Forzza & Zappi

Forzza, R.C. & Zappi, D. Kew Bull (2011) 66: 281. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-011-9283-y

Morphology General Habit

Plants (flowering) (15 –) 30 – 44 cm tall, saxicolous

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizomes short

Morphology Leaves

Leaves suberect to patent; sheaths 1.2 – 1.5 × 2.5 – 5.7 cm, margin entire; blades 3.2 – 3.7 × 2 – 3 cm, triangular, greyish, densely lepidote, margins spinose; spines 3 – 4 mm long, patent Rosettes 6 – 10 cm in diam., growing close together to form dense mats

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle 12 – 22 cm long, terminal, green, erect, glabrous; bracts exceeding the internodes, 6 – 10 cm long, erect, lanceolate to oval-lanceolate, green to stramineous, apex acute to attenuate, entire to slightly serrated at base, glabrous, clasping the peduncle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence 6 – 18 cm long, racemose, simple, flowers densely arranged, covering the rachis; rachis green, glabrous; floral bracts exceeding the pedicels, 0.8 – 1.5 (– 2.2) × 0.5 – 0.7 (– 1.2) cm, glabrous, ovate-acuminate, green at base and stramineous at apex or completely stramineous, margin entire to slightly serrulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers on 2 – 3 mm long, green pedicels; sepals 7 – 9 × 3 – 5 mm, green, ovate, apex acute, margins entire, not imbricate, symmetrical, glabrous; petals 8 – 10 × 3 – 4 mm, green, elliptic, apex obtuse, margins entire, not imbricate, symmetrical, glabrous; stamens 11 – 14 mm long, exserted; filaments free, green; ovary 3 – 5 mm long, green; style 3 – 5 mm long, exserted, green; stigma conduplicate-spiral, green

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 7 – 9 mm long, globose, chestnut-brown; seeds c. 2 mm long, flattened, widely falcate, surrounded by continuous wing, brown.

Distribution

Encholirium agavoides is a narrow endemic occurring only on the western slope of the Serra do Cipó in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Ecology

Forming large populations growing on top of flat to slightly inclined arenitic/quartzitic rocks alongside BarbaceniaglutinosaGoethart & Henrard and Vellozia spp.; c. 1500 m alt. Encholirium subsecundum (Baker) Mez also occurs within this area but it is more often found in steeper and more broken rock outcrops, in areas with larger shrubs.

Conservation

Vulnerable (VU D2; IUCN 2001). Encholirium agavoides has a very restricted extent of occurrence (< 10 km2) and is known from only two localities within a single municipality. However, despite its scarcity, its habitat is rather remote and we do not believe that it currently suffers from strong human pressure.

Note

The most distinctive character of Encholirium agavoides is its silvery, triangular leaves, forming small, neat rosettes (Figs. 1A and 3A), resembling a miniature Agave. This species was first spotted during the first visit to Toucan Cipó Farm by Daniela Zappi and Nigel Taylor, in 2007.

Kew Species Profiles

General Description

This striking new species of bromeliad was discovered in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Encholirium agavoides is a silver-leaved bromeliad which occurs in a very specific habitat, within an area of less than 10 km². The population of this species is just 10 - 12 km away from another new species (E. ctenophyllum). These two species are separated by the steep descent to the gorge of the Rio das Pedras. This river divides the municipalities of Santana de Pirapama (where E. agavoides is found) and Santana do Riacho (where E. ctenophyllum occurs).

Species Profile

Geography and distribution

Encholirium agavoides is restricted to the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This species is a narrow endemic, occurring only in a very limited area on the west slope of the Serra do Cipó, at or around 1,500 metres above sea level. It is found forming large populations growing on top of flat to slightly inclined arenitic/quartzitic rocks.

Of the 23 species of Encholirium , nine are restricted to the 'campos rupestres' of the Cadeia do Espinhaço in Minas Gerais, and seven of these are narrow endemics in the region of Diamantina and Serra do Cipó. The discovery of more narrowly endemic species in this relatively well explored area of the Cadeia do Espinhaço highlights the complexity of the micro-habitats and the high plant diversity and endemism of the 'campos rupestres'.

Description

This striking new silver-leaved species of bromeliad bears a resemblance to an agave. It has rosettes of leaves up to 12 cm wide, with silvery-white, triangular leaves that are spiny along the edges.

The green to yellowish flowers are borne in terminal spikes and are densely packed at the end of the inflorescence (flower-bearing structure).

The fruits are brown and capsular, with minute seeds. This species is thought to be pollinated by insects, and the seeds dispersed by the wind.

Threats and conservation

This plant is a narrow endemic (occurs only in a very limited area) and is hence vulnerable to climate change, fire and habitat destruction.

Distribution

Brazil

Ecology

Campos rupestres (montane subtropical savanna).

Conservation

Rated by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as Vulnerable (D2).

Hazards

The leaves of this species are spiny at the edges.