The Bromeliaceae family stands out among the great variety of Brazilian native tropical plants because of the economic importance of its ornamental plants, currently widely cultivated and used for indoors decorations and landscape projects. Some genera are endemic to the Atlantic Forest and to meet their great demand, removal from their natural environment has become a threat to some species. The Research and Conservation of Bromeliaceae (UPCB) Unit of the Universidade Federal de Vicosa, in Vicosa, MG promotes research on Bromeliaceae conservation. Weed infestation is a constant problem in the maintenance of this collection. The objective of this work was to define the most critical weeds in bromeliad cultivation. From November 2006 to January 2007, weekly visits were conducted to the collection of bromeliads planted in pots at the UPCB, aiming to characterize the occurrence and behavior of weed species. After this period, the weeds were manually removed from the pots, identified and quantified. The critical weed species were described and their fertile individuals were included in the VIC Herbarium of the Department of Plant Biology, as checks. Photographic documentation of the weeds was also conducted. Two critical species were identified: Pilea microphylla,with around six individuals per pot, and Cardamine bonariensis, with approximately 13 individuals per pot. Seven other species were considered potentially critical, with Crepis japonica being the most important one. Twelve opportunistic species were also identified.
competition; bromeliaceae cultivation; Pilea microphylla; Cardamine bonariensis
