The distinctive foliar trichome of Bromeliaceae has promoted the evolution
of an epiphytic habit in certain taxa by allowing the shoot to assume a sig
nificant role in the uptake of water and mineral nutrients. Despite the pro
found ecophysiological and taxonomic importance of this epidermal structure
, the functions of nonabsorbent trichomes in remaining Bromeliaceae are not
fully understood. The hypothesis that light reflection from these trichome
layers provides photoprotection was not supported by spectroradiometry and
fluorimetry in the present study; the mean reflectance of visible light fr
om trichome layers did not exceed 6.4% on the adaxial surfaces of species r
epresenting a range of ecophysiological types nor was significant photoprot
ection provided by their presence. Several reports suggesting water repelle
ncy in some terrestrial Bromeliaceae were investigated. Scanning electron m
icroscopy (SEM) and a new technique-fluorographic dimensional imaging (FDI)
-were used to assess the interaction between aqueous droplets and the leaf
surfaces of 86 species from 25 genera. In the majority of cases a dense lay
er of overlapping, stellate or peltate trichomes held water off the leaf ep
idermis proper. In the case of hydrophobic tank-forming tillandsioideae, a
powdery epicuticular wax layer provided water repellency. The irregular arc
hitecture of these indumenta resulted in relatively little contact with wat
er droplets. Most mesic terrestrial Pitcairnioideae examined either possess
ed glabrous leaf blades or hydrophobic layers of confluent trichomes on the
abaxial surface. Thus, the present study indicates that an important ances
tral function of the foliar trichome in Bromeliaceae was water repellency.
The ecophysiological consequences of hydrophobia are discussed.