The leaf anatomy of Aechmea bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker, A. distichantha Lem., A. ornata Baker, A. nudicaulis (L.) Griseb., A. pectinata Baker, A. coelestis (K. Koch) E. Morren, A. cylindrata Lindm. and A. gracilis Lindm. was studied. All the leaves are hypostomatic and they present: sinuous walls epidermal cells with silica bodies; aquiferous and mechanical hypodermis; scales on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces; and chlorenchyma with air canals filled with braciforms cells. The restricted occurence of some features allowed us to elaborate a identification key for the studied species. Such characteristics include the presence of extravascular fibrous groups; adaxial palisade parenchyma; smaller vascular bundles with conspicuous extensions of the bundle sheath; oclusion in the substomatic chambers; variation in the thickness of the aquiferous hypodermis, and in the number of stalks cells of the scales.
leaf anatomy; Aechmea; Bromeliaceae
