Guzmania pleiosticha (Griseb.) Mez

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (2): 663-1492. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Guzmania pleiosticha (Griseb.) Mez

  • Type

    Type. Fendler 1514 (holotype GOET, US photo; isotype K), high mountains east of Colonia Tovar, Aragua, Venezuela, 11 Jul 1954.

  • Synonyms

    Tillandsia pleiosticha Griseb., Guzmania altsonii L.B.Sm.

  • Description

    Description - Plant flowering 1-1.5 m high. Leaves 5-9 dm long, pale-appressed-lepidote beneath, soon glabrous above; sheaths elliptic, 18 cm long, dark castaneous at the base; blades ligulate, acute, 4-5 cm wide. Scape erect, glabrous; scape-bracts strict, the lower foliaceous and densely imbricate, the upper elliptic, acute, about equaling the internodes or slightly shorter. Inflorescence laxly bipinnate from 8-10 spikes; primary bracts ovate, acute, exceeding the sterile base of the spike; spikes spreading, ellipsoid or fusiform, 4-6 cm long, 2 cm in diameter. Floral bracts strict, densely imbricate, broadly elliptic, rounded, broadly convex, 20 mm long, equaling the sepals, coriaceous, even except toward the apex, sublustrous, obscurely punctulate-lepidote; pedicels obconic. Sepals narrowly elliptic, acute, 15 mm long, short-connate, carinate, nerved, lepidote; petals erect, 25 mm long, white. Capsule cylindric, acute, 25 mm long.

  • Distribution

    Saxicolous or epiphytic in dwarf forest, 1000-2300 m alt, Colombia to Suriname and Ecuador.

    Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Bolívar Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Essequibo Guyana South America| Suriname South America| Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America|