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Pitcairnia aleserratoae Gonz.-Rocha, López-Ferr. et Espejo, Pitcairnia gracielae Gonz.-Rocha, López-Ferr. et Espejo, Pitcairnia pugana Gonz.–Rocha et P. Carrillo, in González-Rocha, López-Ferrari, Espejo-Serna et Carrillo-Reyes, 2024. |
Abstract
Three new species of Pitcairnia from Mexico are proposed: P. aleserratoae was found in Guerrero, Morelos, and Puebla; P. gracielae known from the Estado de Mexico and Morelos while P. pugana has been collected in Jalisco. Information on distribution, habitat and phenology is provided for each species. The new taxa are compared with P. jaliscana, P. karwinskyana, P. micheliana, P. palmeri, and P. pteropoda, species morphologically similar.
Key words: Bromeliaceae, endemic, Monocots, Pitcairnia, Sierra de Huautla, Sierra de Mazamitla, Mexico
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| Pitcairnia aleserratoae, E) group of plants in habitat, F) base of a plant, E. González et al. 249 bis (UAMIZ). Photos: A. Espejo (E), and E. González-Rocha (F). Pitcairnia gracielae, E) flowering plant in habitat, A. Espejo 6089 (UAMIZ!), F) inflorescence in habitat, E. González-Rocha 113 (UAMIZ!). Photos: A. Espejo (E), and E. González-Rocha (F). Pitcairnia pugana, E) plant flowering in habitat, F) inflorescence in habitat, E. González-Rocha & P. Carrillo-Reyes 403, 404 (UAMIZ!). Photos: E. González-Rocha (F), and P. Carrillo-Reyes (E). |
Pitcairnia aleserratoae Gonz.-Rocha, López-Ferr. et Espejo, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:—Pitcairnia aleserratoae is similar to P. micheliana but differs in the size of the spikes (16–27 cm vs. 12.5–25 cm long), in the indument of the abaxial surface of the peduncle and the sepals (densely white-lepidote vs. sparsely white-lepidote), as well as the shape of the petals (oblanceolate vs. narrowly elliptic to very narrowly oblong).
Etymology:—The specific epithet honors Dra. Alejandra Serrato Díaz (1972–2021) (Fig. 4A), professor who was in charge of Divisional Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa. She always supported her students and contributed notably to the first author’s doctoral project, allowing that it was developed and concluded successfully.
Pitcairnia gracielae Gonz.-Rocha, López-Ferr. et Espejo, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:—Pitcairnia gracielae is similar to P. palmeri but differs in the indument of the photosynthetic leaves (sparsely white-lepidote on the margins vs. sparsely white-lepidote on abaxial surface), in the shape and size of the floral bracts (ovate, 4–11 mm wide vs. narrowly triangular, 2–5 mm wide), and in the orientation of the flowers at anthesis (secondly spreading to nutant vs. erect to ascending).
Etymology:—The specific epithet honors Dra. Graciela Calderón Díaz Barriga (1931–2022), professor and eminent botanist specialised in various families of angiosperms, whose dedication and constant work contributed significantly to the knowledge of Mexican Flora (Fig. 4B).
Pitcairnia pugana Gonz.–Rocha et P. Carrillo, sp. nov.
Diagnosis:—Pitcairnia pugana is similar to P. jaliscana but differs in the inflorescence direction (curved vs. erect), in the size and indument of the peduncle (16–25 cm long, densely white-lepidote vs. 12–40 cm long, sparsely white-lepidote to glabrescent) and in the size of the peduncle bracts (12–29 cm long, barely surpassing the peduncle vs. 12–57 cm long, much longer than the peduncle).
Etymology:—The especies honors Luz María Villarreal de Puga (1913–2013) (Fig. 4C), an outstanding professor and dedicated botanist who carried out extraordinary work as a teacher and educator, and promoted studies on the flora and vegetation in the state of Jalisco for many years, and contributed noticeable in expanding the herbarium of Instituto de Botánica de la Universidad de Guadalajara (IBUG).
Edith González-Rocha, Ana Rosa López-Ferrari, Adolfo Espejo-Serna and Pablo Carrillo-Reyes. 2024. Novelties in Pitcairnia (Bromeliaceae; Pitcairnioideae): Three New Species from Mexico. Phytotaxa. 660(3); 205-224. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.660.3.1
