Pitcairnia kunhardtiana L.B.Sm.
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Authority
Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.
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Family
Bromeliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Florifera ultra 1.3 m alta; foliis 1.4 m longis, supra glabris, subtus dense adpresseque brunneo-lepidotis, subdense serrulatis, vaginis ovatis, 5 cm latis, laminis linearibus, longe acuminatis, basi paulo angustatis, 3 cm latis; scapo robusto, albo-flocculoso, mox glabro; scapi vaginis e basi late elliptica rubra in laminam foliaceam elongatam productis, supremis remotis; inflorescentia pauciramosa, 4 dm longa, rubra; bracteis primariis suborbicularibus, apiculatis, quam ramis multo brevioribus, tenuibus, fere integris, albo-lepidotis; spicis erectis, breviter pedunculatis, anguste ovoideis9 dense multifloris, 5-6 cm longis, supremis congestis, alteris valde remotis; bracteis florigeris orbicularibus, quam sepalis multo brevioribus, tenuibus, albo-lepidotis^ pedicellis gracilibus, 3 mm longis; floribus strictis; sepalis lanceo-oblongis, obtusis, 14 mm longis, basi bicarinatis, nervatis, glabris; petalis sepala ad 12 mm superantibus, nudis; staminibus inclusis; ovario 5/8 supero; seminibus alatis.
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Discussion
Fig. 21.
TYPE: terrestrial, wet cliffs, lower central eastern drainage, 1650 m alt., Cerro Sipapo (Paraque), Amazonas, Venezuela, January 14, 1949, Maguire & Politi 28368.
There is no point in trying to place Pitcaimia kunhardtiana in any revision of the genus because its alate seeds and dehiscent capsule exclude all but a handful of species and its habit is quite unlike these or any other. The flowers of P. armata Maury from the same region are quite similar but the leaves and inflorescence are very different.