About the Sequencia Genus

A genus, also known as a generic name, is a lower-level scientific classification which is determined by taxonomists and used to differentiate living (and fossilized) species of organisms. Occasionally, a species is found to have no common traits with other members of its genus, and that species is then given its own monotypic genus. One particularly interesting case of this is the botanical species Sequencia serrata.

A problem for taxonomists

With DNA analysis continually augmented by new technology, it is possible to examine more closely the DNA sequences of species within a genus. Once in a while, taxonomists determine that one or more species have no relation to the rest of the genus, and are thus classified as their own genus, known as a monotypic genus. One such case is the Sequencia serrata, which is now given the monotypic genus Sequencia, named for its unique DNA sequence characteristics.

Characteristics of Sequencia serrata

The terrestrial Sequencia serrate plant is found in Colombia, and has most of the characteristics of the family Bromeliaceae and the subfamily Pitcairnioideae: peripheral water storage tissue, fleshy leaves with spines that grow in the shape of a cup in order to collect water and a complicated root system to collect nutrients.

The Sequencia serrata is quite an interesting plant to learn more about because of its unique combination of the characteristics from other members of the Pitcairnioideae subfamily. It is amazing that an entirely unique species is now easier to identify solely through DNA analysis.