Deuterocohnia lorentziana (now abstrusa or large form of brevifolia)
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Deuterocohnia lorentziana
Now Deuterocohnia abstrusa (or large brevifolia)
Ian Hook, Sydney 06/07. One of several versions grown by Neville Ryan. Collected by Marjory McNamara in Argentina.
Ian Hook, Sydney 08/08, from Dion Fourie.

Ed. The herbarium specimen that gave rise to "Abromeitiella lorentziana" was found to actually be a brevifolia.
brevifolia is the older name and so takes precedence. (Note also that all Abromeitiella genus have been moved to Deuterocohnia)
But where do the many different forms of lorentziana in our collections go ?
Derek Butcher advises that most in Australia have been re-labelled brevifolia 'Large form', but some seem closer to abstrusa, so compare your plants against the following descriptions.

Deuterocohnia abstrusa (was lorentziana) occurs in the typical green form and a very attractive silver form. This species has had a recent name change as Andy Siekkinnen states in a recent article for the San Diego Bromeliad Society…
‘There was recently a dissertation on the genus Deuterocohnia published by German researcher, Nicole Schütz. She studied all known publications and existing herbarium records of the genus. In her work she discovered that the specific epithet (species name) ‘lorentziana’ was first applied to a plant that is really Deuterocohnia brevifolia. Since the first published name has priority the name lorentziana becomes invalid, so this species should now be known as Deuterocohnia abstrusa. Reference: The Bromeliad Blade; Newsletter of the San Diego Bromeliad Society March 2015.
Deuterocohnia lorentziana now abstrusa by Derek Butcher in Bromeliaceae 49(4): 28-30. 2015
Preamble:
In 2011 Nicole Schuetz presented a Dissertation on Systematics and Evolution of the genus Deuterocohnia to the University of Kassel. Disputation was dated 21-02-2012 and made available to the public in 2013.
Nicole decided to publish the following: Deuterocohnia meziana Kuntze ex Mez (1896: 465) by Nicole Schuetz in Phytotaxa 162(1): 18-30. 2014 but did nothing about D. abstrusa. She decided either that she did not feel it needed formal publication or she had changed her opinion. For the last 2 years I have sent numerous Emails to Nicole asking for her opinion. Alas, there was no reply. I have decided to publish her work on this species so that it at least gets Peer Review.

I have always had problems trying to work out if I was growing D. brevifolia or D. lorentziana and kept returning to the key in Smith & Downs (1974).

Key to the Species of Abromeitiella
1.Leaves not over 22 mm long; sepals not over 13 mm long. Southern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina. => A. brevifolia
1. Leaves 50-150 mm long; sepals 16 mm long, Northwestern Argentina. => A. lorentziana

My problem was that I had some plants that did not agree with these measurements and were in between. What species name should I use?
Some were distinct and were given Cultivar names such as ‘Chlorantha’ and ‘Little Marj’ so I was pleased when I received a copy of a dissertation done by Nicole Schuetz in 2011 on the genus Deuterocohnia. She did publish details on Deuterocohnia meziana Kuntze ex Mez (1896: 465) by Nicole Schuetz in Phytotaxa 162(1): 18-30. 2014 but refrained from publishing the following:

Deuterocohnia abstrusa (A. Cast.) N. Schuetz, comb. nov. Schuetz Thesis 2011
Abromeitiella abstrusa A. Cast., Anales Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat."Bernardino Rivadavia" 36: 369. Fig. 1, 5.1931. Type: Argentina: Prov. Catamarca: Dept. Andalgala: Cuesta de la Chilca, Cumbre del Pucara, 12 Jul. 1929. Castellanos 29/60 {lectotype: BA! (2 sheets), photo ex BA in B!, K!, NY!, isolectotype: US, WU!}.
- Abromeitiella lorentziana sensu Castellanos, Lilloa 10: 459. 1944 p. p.: Castellanos 29/60.
- Abromeitiella lorentziana sensu Smith and Downs (1974), Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14(3): 244, 245. 1974. p. p.: Castellanos s.n., Castillon 6458, Castellanos 30/404, Jorgensen 1773, Castellanos 28 / 2296, Castellanos 28 / 2297, Christobal and Turpe 111 {LIL} (Escalante and Agosti 87, Piccardo 30-A, Hunziker and Fulvio 19653 not seen).

Plants growing in dense cushions.
Rosettes 7-14{-20} x 5-12 {-15} cm.
Leaf sheaths 0.5-1.3 x 1.5-2 cm.
Blades 4-8 x 1-1.8 cm, recurved to straight, adaxially concave to plane, spinose- serrate, lepidote, greenish-greyish.
Peduncle absent.
Inflorescence simple, annual, 1-3-flowered.
Floral bracts 9-13 x 3-4 mm, much shorter than the sepals, ovate, acute, mucronate, sparsely lepidote, greenish to brownish.
Flowers 26-32 {-35}mm long, sessile.
Sepals 10-14 x 3-4 mm, ovate to lanceolate, obtuse, mucronulate, sparsely lepidote, greenish.
Petals 25-32 {-35} x 4-5 mm, erect during anthesis, after anthesis slighdy spirally twisted, yellow-greenish, with green apex.
Petal appendages 4-5 mm long, with short fringes.
Filaments 20-25 mm long. Anthers 4-5 mm long, erect, concealed, greenish.
Ovary 5-6 mm long. Style 20-30 mm long, stigma exposed.
Fruits 10-12 {-15} mm diam. Seeds 3-4 mm long.

Distribution. BOLIVIA. Dept. Tarija. ARGENTINA. Prov. Jujuy, Salta, Tucuman, Catamarca, La Rioja. 21° 40'-29° 20' S, 64°30'-68°05'W.

Habitat and ecology. Ecoregions: Central Andean puna (156), Andean Yungas (64), Argentina Monte (136). At elevations of 1,500-3200 m a.s.l.
Terrestrial, forming cushions on open, rocky slopes, abundant at its localities. Dry scrub vegetation, in association.with barrel cacti. Flowering time from September to February. Pollinated by insects or birds.

Etymology. The etymology was not explained by Castellanos. It may refer to the concealed inflorescence or the ramification hidden within the cushions. (Latin abstrusus. hidden, concealed).

Affinities. D. abstrusa is morphologically closely related to D. brevifolia, but is characterized by larger rosettes with a laxer leaf arrangement and usually a denser indument. For further information about the delimitation of D. brevifolia and D. abstrusa see 4.2.3.

Notes and comments. (a) Abromeitiella abstrusa has been formerly included in the synonymy of A. lorentziana. The A. abstrusa element is now re-established as an own species and transfered to D. abstrusa, whereas the A. lorentziana element is considered synonymous with D. brevifolia. (b) IUCN: rare (D. lorentziana see 3.5.4).”

Derek Butcher...
I can find nothing wrong with this move and repeat it here for your information.
What action have I taken with plants in my collection? I think I have one clump that qualifies as D. abstrusa with others now treated as D. brevifolia (Large).

Deuterocohnia abstrusa (A. Cast.) N. Schuetz, comb. nov. Schuetz Thesis 2011 made available 2013.
Abromeitiella abstrusa A. Cast., Anales Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat."Bernardino Rivadavia" 36: 369. Fig. 1, 5.1931.
Type: Argentina: Prov. Catamarca: Dept. Andalgala: Cuesta de la Chilca, Cumbre del Pucara, 12 Jul. 1929. Castellanos 29/60 {lectotype: BA! (2 sheets), photo ex BA in B!, K!, NY!, isolectotype: US, WU!}.
- Abromeitiella lorentziana sensu Castellanos, Lilloa 10: 459. 1944 p. p.: Castellanos 29/60.
- Abromeitiella lorentziana sensu Smith and Downs (1974), Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14(3): 244, 245. 1974. p. p.: Castellanos s.n., Castillon 6458, Castellanos 30/404, Jorgensen 1773, Castellanos 28 / 2296, Castellanos 28 / 2297, Christobal and Turpe 111 {LIL} (Escalante and Agosti 87, Piccardo 30-A, Hunziker and Fulvio 19653 not seen).

Plants growing in dense cushions.
Rosettes 7-14{-20} x 5-12 {-15} cm.
Leaf sheaths 0.5-1.3 x 1.5-2 cm.
Blades 4-8 x 1-1.8 cm, recurved to straight, adaxially concave to plane, spinose- serrate, lepidote, greenish-greyish.
Peduncle absent.
Inflorescence simple, annual, 1-3-floweed.
Floral bracts 9-13 x 3-4 mm, much shorter than the sepals, ovate, acute, mucronate, sparsely lepidote, greenish to brownish.
Flowets 26-32 {-35}mm long, sessile.
Sepals 10-14 x 3-4 mm, ovate to lanceolate, obtuse, mucronulate, sparsely lepidote, greenish.
Petals 25-32 {-35} x 4-5 mm, erect during anthesis, after anthesis slightly spirally twisted, yellow-greenish, with green apex.
Petal appendages 4-5 mm long, with short fringes.
Filaments 20-25 mm long. Anthers 4-5 mm long, erect, concealed, greenish.
Ovary 5-6 mm long. Style 20-30 mm long, stigma exposed.
Fruits 10-12 {-15} mm diam. Seeds 3-4 mm long.

Distribution. BOLIVIA. Dept. Tarija. ARGENTINA. Prov. Jujuy, Salta, Tucuman, Catamarca, La Rioja. 21° 40'-29° 20' S, 64°30'-68°05'W.

Habitat and ecology. Ecoregions: Central Andean puna (156), Andean Yungas (64), Argentina Monte (136). At elevations of 1,500-3200 m a.s.l.
Terrestrial, forming cushions on open, rocky slopes, abundant at its localities. Dry scrub vegetation, in association with barrel cacti. Flowering time from September to February. Pollinated by insects or birds.

Etymology. The etymology was not explained by Castellanos. It may refer to the concealed inflorescence or the ramification hidden within the cushions. (Latin abstrusus. hidden, concealed).

Affinities. D. abstrusa is morphologically closely related to D. brevifolia, but is characterized by larger rosettes with a laxer leaf arrangement and usually a denser indument. For further information about the delimitation of D. brevifolia and D. abstrusa see 4.2.3.

Notes and comments. (a) Abromeitiella abstrusa has been formerly included in the synonymy of A. lorentziana. The A. abstrusa element is now re-established as an own species and transfered to D. abstrusa, whereas the A. lorentziana element is considered synonymous with D. brevifolia. (b) IUCN: rare (D. lorentziana see 3.5.4). For references and Specimens see separate jpg

Deuterocohnia lorentziana (Mez) M A Spencer & L B Smith, Bradea 6(16): 140-5. 1992
Abromeitiella lorentziana (Mez) Castellanos, Lilloa 10: 459. 1944.
Pitcairnia lorentziana Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 373. 1896.
Hepetis lorentziana (Mez) Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 974. 1896.
Abromeitiella abstrusa Castellanos, An. Mus. Nac. Hist. Buenos Aires 36: 369, pls. 1, 5. 1931. Type. Cuesta de la Chilca, crest of Pucara, Catamarca, Argentina, Castellanos 29/60 (BA, photo, US), 12 Jul 1929.
Desc from S&D
Leaves 5-15 cm long, 8 mm wide, 4.5 mm thick.
Sepals 16 mm long;
petals 32 mm long;
ovary 7 mm long.
TYPE. Lorentz s n (holotype, B; photo 11386, F), Cuesta de la Chilca, Catamarca, Argentina.
DISTRIBUTION. Saxicolous, 1750-1850 m alt, northwestern Argentina.
ARGENTINA. JUJUY: Volcan, 30 Nov 1918, Castillon 6458 in part (BA); Chucalesna to Senador Perez, 21 Jan 1921, Castellanos 1048 (BA); Tilcara: Garganta del Diablo, 29 Jul 1946, Escalante & Agosti 87 (LP); Sierras dc Tilcara, 10 Mar 1957, Cristobal & Turpe 111 (LIL). SALTA: El Alisal, Puerta Tastil to Rio de Lerana, Piccardo 30-A (UC, US). CATAMARCA, Andalgala: Las Minas, 10 Apr 1917, Jorgensen 1773 (GH, LIL, SI, US); Cuesta de la Chilca, 27 Jan 1968, A. T. Hunziker & Di Fulvio 19653 (LIL, US); Tinogasta: Quebrada de San Buenaventura, 7 Feb 1930, Castellanos 30/404 (BA, GH, SI). LA RIOJA: Reported from Cachiyuyal and from Famatina by Castellanos but not verified.
Protologue
Pitcairnia lorentziana Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 373. 1896.
15. P. Lorentziana ; foliis ignotis ; inflorescentia scapo nullo nidulante, perdense spicata, adpresse lepidota; bracteis triangularibus, margine spinulosis, perrigidis apice pungentibus; floribus quam bracteae brevioribus sessilibus ; sepalis ellipticis, apice obtusis cucullatisque, symmetricis; petalis ligula latissima instructis, stamina subaequantibus ; ovario fere omnino supero ; ovulis breviter caudatis.
Perimperfecte solum ex inflorescentiis binis perdensis, strobiliformi-subcorymbosis, ad 60 mm. longis, 40 mm. diam. metientibus cognita. Bracteae imbricatae, erectae, basi late albide pellucido-marginatae, satis carinatae, margine infimae spinulis perpaucis corneis, minutis, flavescentibus auctae, perlonge acutae in setam aciculosam flavescentem, validissimam desinentes, utrinque dense lepidibus adpressis albis obtectae ob lucem visae micantes, anguste paleaceo-marginatae. Flores ad 28 mm. longi; sepalis subglabris, tenuibus margine late hyalinis, 11 mm. longis valde naviculari-concavis. Petala 24 mm. longa, lingulata, super basin ligula profunde fimbriatim incisa aucta. Antherae 6,5 mm, longae. Ovarium elongatum subprismaticam, apice subito in stylum gracilem contractum. Fructus ignotus.
Argentina, prov. de Catamarca ad Cuesta de la Chilea : Lorentz. - Floret Februario. (V, s. in herb. cl. Hieron., nunc Berol.)

Updated 19/05/18