Molecular phylogenetics of the Brazilian giant bromeliads (Alcantarea, Bromeliaceae): implications for morphological evolution and biogeography

► Alcantarea is well supported as monophyletic in both Bayesian and parsimony analyses. ► Sections of Vriesea are paraphyletic. ► Microsatellites delimit geographically isolated species groups. ► Hybridization may be more frequent then previously thought within Alcantarea. ► Chiropterophily and invasion of rocky savanna-like vegetation apparently evolved multiple times.