Pitcairnia lechleri Baker

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1974. Pitcairnioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (1): 1-658. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pitcairnia lechleri Baker

  • Type

    TYPE. Lechler 3132 (holotype, K; photo, GH), Sachapata, eastern slope of the Andes, Puno, Peru, Aug 1854.

  • Synonyms

    Hepetis lechleri (Baker) Mez

  • Description

    Description - Plant caulescent, flowering 1 m high; stem over 10 cm long. Leaves suberect; sheaths broadly elliptic, dark at least toward base; blades dimorphic, the outer dark brown, persistent, almost spine-like, spinose-serrate, the inner deciduous, not contracted at base, linear, attenuate, 4 dm long, 2 cm wide, entire above the persistent spinulose base. Scape erect, stout, subglabrous; scape-bracts equaling or exceeding the internodes, narrowly triangular, aciculose-pungent, the lower ones spinulose-serrate at base. Inflorescence simple or paniculate, pyramidal, 4 dm or longer, glabrous; primary bracts inconspicuous; branches to 15 cm long, with lower half sterile and upper densely flowered. Floral bracts narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, exceeding the pedicels or even the lowest flowers; flowers somewhat secund, spreading; pedicels slender, 6 mm long. Sepals suboblong, obtuse-mucronulate, 12 mm long, ecarinate; petals appendaged; ovary ca. ½ superior (?).

  • Distribution

    Among rocks, ca 2700 m alt, southern Peru.

    Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Bolivia South America|