Pitcairnia maidifolia
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Pitcairnia maidifolia

Mitch Jones 04/26. Colombia, Lowlands to Medina Rd. near tower Al



Pitcairnia maidifolia (C. Morren) Decaisne in Planchon, Fl. Serres 9: 151, pl. 915. 1854.
Puya maidifolia C. Morren, Ann. Soc. Agr. Bot. Gand. 5: 453, pl. 289. 1849.
Puya funckiana Linden, Cat. 5: 2. 1850; 1l: 18. 1856; nomen (! W. Robyns).
Pitcairnia funckiana A. Dietrich, Allgem. Gartenzeit. 19: 337. 1851. Type. Linden Hortus s n (n v).
Puya maydifolia Decaisne, Revue Hort. III. 5: 347. 1851; error for "maidifolia".
Pitcairnia macrocalyx Hooker, Bot. Mag. 79: pl. 4705. 1853. Type. South America, Kew Hortus s n (K), Dec 1852.
Phlomostachys densiflora sensu Beer, Bromel. 46. 1857; in part, as to Puya maidifolia.
Pitcairnia maizaifolia hortus ex Beer, Bromel. 46. 1857; nomen.
Phlomostachys funckiana (A. Dietrich) Beer, Bromel. 47. 1857, as 'funkiana.'
Neumannia maidifolia (C. Morren) K. Koch, Ind. Sem. Hort. Berol. "1856", App.: 2. 1857.
Pitcairnia zeifolia K. Koch, Ind. Sem. Hort. Berol. "1857", App.: 4. 1858. Type: Description, no specimen cited.
Lamproconus maidifolius Lemaire ex Baker, Handb. Bromel. 109. 1889; nomen.
Vriesea tricolor hortus ex Baker, Handb. Bromel. 109. 1889; nomen.
Pitcairnia oerstediana Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 448. 1896. Type. Near Ujara, Costa Rica, Oersted 44 (C, photo 22331, F).
Hepetis funckiana (A. Dietrich) Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 973. 1896.
Hepetis maidifolia (C. Morren) Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 974. 1896.
Hepetis oerstediana (Mez) Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 974. 1896.
Desc from S&D
Plant flowering to 1.3 m high.
Leaves entire; persistent, the outer ones reduced to blackish sheaths, the inner well developed, about 10 in a fasciculate rosette;
sheaths narrowly ovate, brown-lepidote;
petioles to 2 dm long;
blades lanceolate, acuminate, 5-10 dm long, 6-8 cm wide, glabrous at maturity.
Scape erect, more or less furfuraceous;
lower scape-bracts foliaceous, exceeding the internodes, the upper ovate, acuminate.
Inflorescence simple, dense before anthesis, lax afterwards, few-many-flowered, subcylindric, 10-45 cm long.
Floral bracts broadly ovate, acute, 30-35 mm long, shorter than the sepals by anthesis, green or yellow often tinged with bright red, nerved, subchartaceous;
flowers spreading at anthesis, often subsecund;
pedicels to 1 cm long, slenderer than the ovary.
Sepals asymmetric, broadly elliptic, obtuse, 26-30 mm long, ecarinate, green or yellow, glabrous;
petals linear, broadly acute, decurved at anthesis, unequal, 5-6 cm long, barely exceeding the stamens, naked, white or greenish white;
anthers l cm long;
ovary almost wholly superior. Seeds long-caudate.
TYPE. Funck & Schlim in Linden Hortus s n (n v, doubtfully preserved, but identification clear from plate).
DISTRIBUTION. Terrestrial and saxicolous, forest, 240-2225 m alt, Honduras to Colombia and Suriname.
HONDURAS. MORAZAN: Agua Amarilla, 22 Nov 1946, Williams & Molina 10814 (GH). COSTA RICA. SAN JOSE: Turrialba to Moravia, 21 Dec 1948, Foster 2714 (US). ALAJUELA: Santiago to San Josk de San Ramon, 17 Oct 1928, Brenes 6348 (F). WITHOUT LOCALITY: Feb 1897, Pittier 11187 (US): COLOMBIA. MAGDALENA: Santa Marta, Nov 1844, Purdie s n (K); 1845, Purdie .s n (K); 1898-1901, H. H. Smith 2552 (BM, F, GH, PH, US): Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, 27 Jul 1946, Foster & Smith 1286 (GH); same, Pueblo Bello, 19 Aug 1946, Foster & Smith 1470 (GH, US). NORTE DE SANTANDER: Sarare, Rio Cubugdn and Rio Cobaria, Cordillera Oriental, 15 Nov 1941, Cuatrecasas 13192 (COL); Oru on pipeline, 17 Sep 1946, Foster 1732 (GH). SANTANDER: Mogotes, Dec 1945, Miguel in bb. Apolinar-Maria 59 (GH). ANTIOQUIA: Rioverde, Sonson, 22 Jan 1947, Gutierrez 35526 (UC); Dabeiba, 21 Mar 1948, Johnson.& Barkley 126 (US). CUNDINAMARCA: Carretera, Pacho to Rionegro, 22-26 Feb 1942, Garcia-Barriga 10768A (COL); Cachipay to Quebrada del Hueso, Cordillera Oriental, 22 Mar 1942, Cuatrecasas 13592 (F, GH, US); Alto de Quemara, Gazaunta Valley, 10 km northwest of Medine, 5 Oct 1944, Grant 10374 (US); Monterredondo, Guayabetal, 2 Dec 1955, S. Vogel 135 (MAINZ, US). TOLIMA: Ibague, 1844, Goudot 102 (P). VALLE: Rio Cali, Puente Sofia to Yanaconas, 6 Nov 1944, Cuatrecasas 18719 (GH). NARINO: Mocoa to Sachamates, 29 Dec 1940, Cuatrecasas 11414 (US). META: Rio Guatiquia, Villavicensio, 20 Nov 1948, Molina & Barkley 18-M-010 (US); Sierra La Macarena, 29 Nov 1949, Philipson, Idrobo & Fernandez 1602 (BM, US); junction of Rio Guejar and Rio Zanza, north end of Cordillera La Macarena, 20 Aug 1950, S. G: Smith & Idrobo 1487 (COL, UC, US). VAUPES: Rio Guayabero, 8 Nov 1939, Cuatrecasas 7544 (COL, US); San Martin, Rio Ocoa, 23 Oct 1945, P. H. Allen 3356 (US). VENEZUELA. DISTRITO FEDERAL: Caracas, Funck s n (! Mez). YARACUY: San Felipe, Cerro Negro, 4 Jul 1959, Trujillo 4282 (VEN). TRUJILLO: below El Batatal and Campo Elias, 3-5 Sep 1966, Steyermark & Rabe 97415 (US, VEN). MERIDA: Paramo de los Conejos, Sep 1942, Lasser 610 (VEN). BARINAS: Barinitas to Santo Domingo, Sep 1956, Aristeguieta 2402 (VEN). BOLIVAR: Sororopan-tepui, 13 Nov 1944, Steyermark 60063 (GH); Torono-tepui, Chimanta-tepui, 19-20 May 1953, Steyermark 75475 (F, US); Cerro de los Guacamayas, Uriman, 6 Sep 1954, Bernardi 1653 (MERIDA); source of Rio ChicanAn to El Dorado, 27 Aug 1961, Steyermark 89516 (US, VEN); Cerro Uroi, Rio Chicanan, 13 Sep 1962, Maguire, Steyermark & Maguire 53800 (NY, US, VEN); upper Rio Churun, 16 May 1964, Steyermark 93996 (NY, US, VEN); Kamarata Valley, 18 May 1964, Steyermark 94104 (VEN). AMAZONAS: Cerro Duida, 25-26 Aug 1944, Steyermark 57969 (GH). GUYANA. ESSEQUIBO: Kaieteur Savanna, Potaro River, 6 Sep 1937, Sandwith 1388 (K);Maguire & Fanshawe 23411 (GH, NY); Mount Ayanganna, 15-16 Aug 1960, Tillett & Boyan 45141 (NY, US); Utschi Falls, Kamarang Rivet, 22 Oct 1960, Tillett 45759 (NY, US); Kopinang Falls, southern Pakaraima Mountains, 29 Aug 1961, Maguire & Wilson-Browne 45985- (NY, US). SURINAME. Tafelberg, 26 Aug 1944, Maguire 24509 (NY).

From Mez 1935
157. P. Oerstediana Mez in DC. Monogr. Phaner. IX. (1896) 448.
Folia homomorpha, persistentia, tenuissime membranacea, e basi angusta in laminam lanceolatam, ad 0,2 m longam et 32 mm latam, integerrimam, glabram dilatata. Scapus tenuis, subglaber, erectus, foliis normalibus conspersus. Inflorescentia perpauciflora, laxe secundeque subracemosa, ad 70 mm longa; axi subglabro; bracteis lanceolatis, peracutis, ad 60 mm longis sepala permulto superantibus. Flores pedicellis crassiusculis ad 10 mm longis stipitati, erecti; sepalis ad 20 mm longis. Capsula ad 3/4 longit. supera.
Costarica: bei Ujara (Oersted n.44).

158. P. Funkiana A. Dietr. in Otto et Dietr., Allgem. Gartenzeitg. XIX. (1851) 337;
Regel in Gartenfl. IV. (1855) 45, t. 113.
Puya Funkiana Linden, Cat. n. 5 (1850) 2 et ex Dietr., l.c.
Phlomostachya Funkiana Beer, Bromel. (1857) 47.
Pitcairnia Funkii Wawra, It. Sax.-Cob. (1883) 174, nomen.
P. macrocalyx Hook. in Bot. Mag. LXXIX. (l853) t. 4705.
Folia interiora super vaginam in petiolum permanifestum, canaliculatum, vix ultra 0,1 m longum contracta, tunc in laminam lanceolatam, semimetralem, usque ad 50 mm latam dilatata, integerrima, adulta glabra. Scapus crassiusculus, erectus, vaginis ovato-ellipticis, longe acuminatis, dorso furfuraceis, internodia longe superantibus praeditus. Inflorescentia pauci-vel subpauciflora, laxiuscule racemosa inter bracteas axin ostendens, usque ad 0,2 m longa et 80 mm diam. metiens; bracteis per anthesin patentibus, late ovatis, acutis, ad 30 mm longis, sepala superantibus, haud imbricatis. Flores pedicellis quamvis brevibus crassiusculisque tamen manifestis stipitati, patentes vel subreflexi, ad 65 mm longi, glabri; sepalis virenti-flavis, 35 mm longis, sublanceolatis, subrotundatis, asymmetricis, haud carinatis. Petala lactea, valde inaequilonga, anteriora bina ad 62 mm metientia, subrotundata, ligulata, stamina subaequantia. Antherae ad 11 mm longae. Ovarium ad 4/5r longit. superum.
Colombia: Merida (Funk), Sierra Nevada de Sta. Martha (Purdie). Brit. Guyana: ohne Standortsangabe (Schomburgk).

159. P. maidifolia (Morr.) Decsne. ap. Planch. in Fl. des Serres IX. (1853-54) 151, t. 915.
Puya maidifolia Morr. in Ann. de Gand V. (1849) 453, t. 289.
Puya maydifolia Decsne. in Rev. Hortic. 3. ser. V. (1851) 347.
Lamproconus maidifolius Lem. ex Bak. Bromel. (1889) 109.
Neumannia maidifolia C. Koch in Ind. sem. Hort. Berol. 1856, App. 2.
Pitcairnia maizaifolia Hort. ex Beer, Bromel. (1857) 46.
P. zeifolia C. Koch in Ind. sem. hort. Berol. 1857, App.4; Bak. in Bot. Mag. CVII. (1881) t. 6535.
Phlomostachys densiflora Beer, Bromel. (1857) 46, e. p.
Vriesea tricolor Hort. Ex Bak. Bromel. (1889) 109.
Folia interiora super vaginam in petiolum permanifestum, canaliculatum, ad 0.2 m longum contracta, tunc in laminam lanceolatam, semimetralem, ad 60 mm latam producta, integerrima, adulta glabra. Scapus validus, erectus, vaginis quam internodia longioribus, ex ovato-ovali acuminatis, dorso plus minus lepidotis, integerrimis praeditus. Inflorcscentia submulti-vel multiflora, dense subracemosa, per anthesin cylindrica, ad 0.3 m longa et floribus computatis usque ad 0.1 mm diam. metiens; axi per anthesin saltem bracteis omnino obtecto celatoque; bracteis late ovatis, subacutis, 30-35 mm longis, primum stricte erectis, nunc prope apicem virentibus nunc totis purpureis, sepala aequantibus. Flores per anthesin stricte erecti deflorati patentes, breviter pedicellati, ad 55 mm longi, glabri; sepalis viridibus, 26 mm longis, late ellipticis, apice rotundatis et plus minus recurvis, conspicue asymmetricis. Petala satis inaequilonga usque ad 52 mm metientia, virenti-vel lacteo-alba, per anthesin decurva, acutiuscula, stamina superantia, eligulata. Antherae ad 11 mm longae. Ovarium fere superum. Venezuela: bei Caracas (Funk). Colombia: Sierra Nevada de Sta. Martha (Purdie, H. H. Smith n. 2552), ohne Standortsangabe (Goudot). Costarica: bei Virilla (Tonduz im herb. inst. phys.-geogr. Costaric. n. 16348), ohne Standortsangabe (Pittier und Durand n. 11187). - In Kultur.

PITCAIRNIA ZEIFOLIA by J G Baker in Curtis Bot 1881 TAB. 6535
Native of Central America.
Nat. Ord. BBOMELIACEAE, Tribe PITCAIRNIAE.
Genus PITCAIRNIA, L'Herit.; (K.Koch in Walp. Ann. vol. vi. p. 78.)
PITCAIRNIA (Lamproconus) zeifolia ; foliis basalibus 5-6 rosulatis longe petiolatis inermibus lanceolatis chartaceis 2-3-pedalibus utrinque viridibus e medio ad apicem et basin angustatis, pedunculo elongato foliis pluribus reductis vaginantibus acuminatis praedito, floribus pluribus ascendentibus 1axe subspicatis, pedicellis crassis brevissimis, bracteis ovatis rubris calyce subequilongis, calycis oblongi segmentis oblongis obtusis valde imbricatis viridibus glabris, petalis albidis lingulatis obtusis calyce subtriplo longioribus basi haud appendiculatis, genitalibus petalis subaequilongis, seminibus utrinque conspicue caudatis.

P. zeifolia, K. Koch in Ind. Sem. Hort. Berol. 1854, App. p. 11 ; Walp. Ann. Vol. vi. p. 80
This is one of the small number of Pitcairnias from Central America, with broad petioled leaves, large subsessile flowers, large clasping bracts, and seeds conspicuously tailed at both ends, which make up the section Lamproconus published as a genus by Lemaire. Its nearest ally is the New Granadan P. Funckiana of A. Dietrich, which was figured under the name of P. macrocalyx, at tab. 4705 of the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. The present plant, although it has been known for a quarter of a century, has not been figured previously. It was discovered by Warcewicz in Guatemala, and we have a fine specimen in the Kew Herbarium, gathered by Purdie in the province of Santa Martha in New Granada, about 1845. Our drawing was made from a plant sent by Dr. Regel, which flowered in the Palm House at Kew in December, 1879.
DESCR. Leaves five or six to a basal rosette; petiole reaching the length of a foot, channelled, quite unarmed; lamina lanceolate, two or three feet long, two or two and a half inches broad at the middle, papery in texture, green on both sides, almost entirely destitute of lepidote scales, narrowed gradually to both ends. Peduncle one or two feet long, sheathed by numerous reduced lanceolate leaves with long free tips. Flowers a dozen or more in a multi-farious rather lax subspicate raceme; pedicels very short and stout; bracts bright red, ovate, about as long as the calyx, which they clasp and conceal. Calyx oblong, an inch long, green, naked; segments oblong, obtuse, much imbricated. Petals greenish-white, lingulate, obtuse, about three times as long as the calyx, not scaled at the base. Stamens inserted at the base of the petals; anther linear, yellow. Ovary adnate to the calyx only at the very base; style filiform, reaching to the tip of the petals; stigmas spirally twisted. Capsule as long as the calyx. Seeds very numerous, minute, with a tail an eighth of an inch long at each end.
J. G. .Baker.
Fig. 1, apex of a stamen, magnified ; 2, the pistil, complete, natural size; 3, horizontal section of the ovary.

PITCAIRNIA MACROCALYX. in Curtis Mag 79 1853 TAB. 4705.
Large-calyxed Pitcairnia.
Nat. Ord. BROMELIACEAE.-HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, TAB. 4241.)
PITCAIRNIA macrocalyx; foliis radicalibus longissimis lanceolatis acuminatis¬simis inferno longe attenuatis vaginantibus glaberrimis submembranaceis costatis inermibus caulinis sensim minoribus, caule elongato subfurfuraceo¬lanato tereti, racemo laxiusculo, floribus (albis) patentibus demum reflexis, bracteis ovatis concavis acuminatis calycem longitudine aequantibus, pedi¬cellis brevissimis, calyas (flavi) ampli sepalis ovatis acuminatis appresso-conniventibus, petalis oblongo-lineari-spathulatis subtortis basi esquamosis, ovario supero.
The present is one of the many South American novelties we are accustomed to receive from the Belgian Gardens, without name or particular locality (The same plant, indeed, we have received from Mr. Linden under the name of "Puya maidifolia" from Mexico; but the character of that, as given in Walpers' 'Annales', is much at variance with ours.)
In no work can we find the present species described: but its nearest ally is unquestionably Pitcairnia suaveolens of Lindley in the"Botanical Register", tab. 1069. That has the same large, white, somewhat twisted petals, and the same-coloured calyx; but is very different in the exceedingly lax raceme, the comparatively small and narrow segments to the calyx, inferior ovary, glabrous stem, and very narrow leaves. The present has the largest calyx of any species known to us, and it is altogether a fine-looking plant. With us it flowered in a warm stove in December, 1852.

DESCR. Root-leaves very numerous, crowded, two to three feet long, elongato-lanceolate, tapering gradually to an exceedingly fine point, and below attenuated into a long convolute base; the texture submembranaceous, colour bright green, the margin quite entire, the surface glabrous and free from every kind of vlllaus covering. Stem shorter than the leaves, terete, at the base as thick as one's finger, between furfuraceous and woolly, leafy, the leaves remote, gradually smaller upwards till they pass into the bracteas of the inflorescence. Raceme a span long, of many large, spreading, at length reflexed flowers, rather lax, or moderately compact, braeteated. Bracteas membranaceous, ovate, much and finely acuminated, very concave, as long as the calyx and pedicel. Pedicels very short. Calyx large, almost an inch long, formed of three connivent yellow ovate-lanceolate sepals. Petals large, white, thrice as long as the calyx, slightly twisted and imbricated, linear-oblong, spathulate, the apex often reflexed, the sides more or less involute, the base within destitute of scale. Stamens six, as long as or a little longer than the petals. Anthers linear-oblong, yellow. Ovary almost entirely, if not quite superior, oblong-ovate with three furrows, tapering into the filiform white style, which equals the stamens in length. Stigmas three, green, spirally twisted.
Fig. 1. Petal. 2. Pistil :-magnified.


Updated 24/04/26