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.

A new species of Krenakanthus, a member of the bromelioid “Cryptanthoid complex”, is described based on plants discovered through collaborative citizen science. Krenakanthus ribeiranus and its only congener K. roseolilacinus are endemic to the “João Pinto Center of Biodiversity”, a still poorly explored region with Campos Rupestres and associated vegetation in the Rio Doce Valley, in eastern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The unusual combination of morphological characters of K. ribeiranus, highlighted by plant delicacy and almost all leaf and flower parts covered by uniseriate, hair-like trichomes, is illustrated and discussed in comparison with K. roseolilacinus, including leaf and seed anatomy, as well as pollen morphology. This micro-endemic species is assessed as Critically Endangered, reinforcing the need for strategy to protect the biodiversity of the region. The morphology of the new species validates and strengthens the diagnostic flower characters used in the circumscription of Krenakanthus, suggesting as secondary diagnostic characters the habit, stature, and leaf conformation.

Prosopanche cocuccii is described as a new species from Southern Brazil. It resembles P. bonacinae due to the trigonous rhizome and by the general size of the flower organs. Nevertheless, P. cocuccii is distinguished by the main floral morphological characteristics used to differentiate species. In addition, the new species presents some rare characters for the genus, such as a highly branched rhizome and flowers usually grouped in fascicles. We provide a description, illustrations, field photographs, morphological details under the stereomicroscope, and comments on habitat, ecology, distribution, and conservation of the new species, as well as an updated key for the genus Prosopanche. In addition, we identified that P. cocuccii produces a large number of rhizomes and fruits for each single host specimen of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), which resulted in a decrease in height and growth of its only known host plant.

Background and Aims: Recent studies have documented numerous morphoanatomical variations for the seed coat in Bromeliaceae. However, the structural diversity and character evolution of the embryo within this family remain largely unexplored. Given the significance of the embryo in plant diversification, this research aims to investigate the morphology and key anatomical features of Bromeliaceae embryos, providing insights into character evolution, taxonomic applications and reproductive biology. Methods: We analysed samples of 88 species from 50 genera representing the major lineages of Bromeliaceae, using standard plant microtechniques adapted for seeds. To determine ancestral traits, parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses were performed in a consensus supertree combining previous phylogenies. Key Results: We identified 14 informative characters, highlighting significant differences among groups, particularly in embryo morphology, differentiation and anatomical traits. Our analysis revealed that undifferentiated embryos with a vestigial cotyledonary hyperphyll are plesiomorphic in Bromeliaceae. They have evolved multiple times into rudimentary or well-differentiated embryos, the latter exhibiting intermediate or large sizes and diverse cotyledonary hyperphyll morphologies. The cotyledonary hypophyll varies in sheath lobes and slit morphologies and is curved or expanded exclusively in representatives of Bromelioideae. Likewise, several patterns of hypocotyl/radicle constriction are unique to Tillandsioideae and plesiomorphic for this clade. Although rudimentary embryos exhibit simpler and more uniform anatomy, they are distinct from undifferentiated embryos, which lack defined organs and internal tissues. In contrast, well-differentiated embryos possess more complex anatomical structures, including a multi-layered shoot apical meristem and root cap, a broad cotyledonary sheath and often leaf primordia, the last of which have evolved independently several times only in large embryos. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a previously unknown morphological diversity for embryos in Bromeliaceae, enhancing our understanding of the morphological evolution of their major lineages. In addition, our findings introduce new informative characters for the systematics of the family and broaden our understanding of the reproductive biology of Bromeliaceae.