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| Pitcairnia asmussii Gouda, in Gouda, 2024. |
Abstract
A new species of Pitcairnia similar to P. xanthocalyx Mart. is described, compared with this species and illustrated. The flowers of this new species has shorter pedicel, but larger sepals and petals, and it has dimorphic, non-petiolate leaves. The species was discovered by Matthias Asmuss from Caracas, Venezuela and cultivated at the Utrecht Botanical Gardens.
Bromeliaceae, Pitcairnioideae, Taxonomy, Venezuela, Monocots
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| Pitcairnia asmussii at the type locality: A. Saxicolous growing plants in habitat; B. flowering specimen, showing the slightly secund leaf-blades; C. flowering specimen on rocky soil with radial symmetric rosettes. |
Pitcairnia asmussii Gouda spec. nov.
Type:—Venezuela, Aragua, entre Cata y Cuyagua, Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, ... 4 (holotype VEN!).
Diagnosis:—A Pitcairnia xanthocalyx Mart. like species that differs from it by dimorphic leaves in the new shoots
(starting with short narrow triangular coarsely serrate and pungent leaves vs. leaves all alike), leaves not (sub-)petiolate
(vs. subpetiolate), the sheath spinose serrulate in upper half and glabrous (vs. entire and covered with a membrane of
scales), the blade entire (except the base sometimes vs. laxly serrulate), flower pedicel shorter (0.8–0.9 vs. 1.5–2 cm),
sepals longer ( [2–]2.5–2.8 vs. 1.5–2 cm) and petals longer (7–8.4 vs. 4.5–5 cm).
Etymology:—This species is named after Matthias Asmuss from Caracas who is dedicated to study Bromeliaceae
from Venezuela and who collected this new species.
Eric J. GOUDA. 2024. Pitcairnia asmussii (Bromeliaceae), A New Species from Venezuela, close to P. xanthocalyx Mart. Phytotaxa. 671(2); 139-143. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.671.2.3
