Puya ferruginea
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Puya ferruginea
Mitch Jones 06/25



Puya ferruginea (Ruiz & Pavon) L. B. Smith, Phytologia 16: 461. 1968.
Pitcairnia ferruginea Ruiz & Pavon, Fl. Peruv. 3: 36. 1802; L. B. Smith, Phytologia 10: 29. 1964.
Pourretia ferruginea (Ruiz & Pavon) Sprengel, Syst. 2: 23. 1825.
Pitcairnia asterotricha Poeppig & Endlicher, Nov. Gen. 8c Sp. 2: 42, pl. 158. 1838. Type. Cassapi, Cuchero, Huanuco, Peru, Poeppig 1531 (W, n v lost).
Puya grandiflora Hooker, Bot. Mag. 87: Pl. 5234. 1861. Type. Kew Hort., Oct 1860.
Pitcairnia consimilis Baker, Jour. Bot. London 19: 226, 266. 1881. Type. Sorata, La Paz, Bolivia, Mandon 1173 (BM, GH, K, S).
Puya echinotricha Andre, Enum. Bromel. 5. 13 Dec 1888; Revue Hort. 60: 565. 16 Dec 1888. Type. San Jose, slopes of Chimborazo, Ecuador, Andre 4019 (K), 10 Jul 1876,
Pitcairnia echinotricha (Andre) Baker, Handb. Bromel. 119. 1889.
Hepetis consimilis (Baker) Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan; 9: 973. 1896.
Hepetis ferruginea (Ruiz & Pavon) Mez, DC. Monogr. Phan. 9: 973. 1896.
Pitcairnia weberbaueri Mez, Bull. Herb. Boiss. II. 4: 627. 1904. Type. Sandia, Puno, Peru, Weberbauer 570 (B, photo 11383, F). Now Puya textoagricolae Weber
Pitcairnia viridis Mez, Repert. Sp. Nov. 16: 8. 1919. Type. Cultivated in Berlin, Peru, Weberbauer s n (B; photo US).
Pitcairnia cotahuasiana Harms, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 10: 788. 1929. Type. Alca, valley of Cotahuasi, La Union, Arequipa, Peru, Weberbauer 6880 (B, F, GH, US).
Pitcairnia latibracteata Harms, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 10: 788. 1929. Huacapistana, Tarma, Junin, Peru, Weberbauer 1989 (B; photo 11365, F).
Pitcairnia herrerae Harms, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 10: 789. 1929. Lectotype. Saxaihuaman, Cuzco, Peru, Herrera 1196 (B, photo 11362, F).
Pitcairnia imperialis Harms, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 10: 790. 1929; nom nov for Puya grandiflora Hooker, non Pitcairnia grandiflora Mez 1906.
Pitcairnia laresiana Harms, Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 11: 58. 1930. Type. Lares Valley above Mantoc, Calca, Cuzco, Peru, Weberbauer 7915 (B, photo 11364 F, BM, GH).
Desc from S&D
Very variable, flowering to nearly 4 m high; stem stout, woody, covered with the remains of dead leaves.
Leaves all alike, densely rosulate, to 1 m long;
blades narrowly triangular, acuminate, pungent, 5 cm wide, coarsely spinose-serrate, white-lepidote beneath.
Scape stout, rather woody, ferruginous-stellate, then glabrous;
scape-bracts ovate, acuminate, at least the lowest serrate.
Inflorescence usually paniculate, laxly pyramidal, covered with ferruginous stellate scales;
primary bracts like the upper scape-bracts, much shorter than the branches and usually not equaling their sterile bases;
branches secundly many-flowered.
Floral bracts ovate, acute, entire, usually shorter than the pedicels;
pedicels slender, 1-6 cm long.
Sepals oblong, obtuse, 12-45 mm long, densely ferruginous stellate;
petals to 14 cm long though often much smaller, greenish white to various shades of purple, usually with 2 vertical calli near base but varying to completely naked in a single flower, in age tightly twisted together counter clockwise;
stamens included;
ovary more than 2/3 superior; ovules narrowly winged.
Capsule globose, 25 mm long.
TYPE. Ruiz & Pavon s n (holotype, BM), Amancaes, Lima, Peru.
DISTRIBUTION. Dry rocky slopes, 1800-3800 m alt, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
ECUADOR. LOJA: Catacocha, Valle Seco de Playas, 19 Apr 1944, Acosta Solis 7998 (F, US). PERU. AMAZONAS: Chachapoyas, Mathews s n (BM). LIBERTAD, Otuzco: Casmiche, 26 Jun 1962, Lopez, Sagastegui & Aldave 3956 (TRP, US). LIMA: Near Lima, Cuming 976 (K); Wilkes Expedition s n (GH); Amancaes, 15 Nov 1930, Weberbauer 7965 (B); Prov. Huarochiri: San Mateo, Martinet 210 (P, US); Rio Blanco, Macbride & Featherstone 711 (F); 15-17 Apr 1929, Killip & Smith 21660 (GH, US); 25 Mar 1952, Hutchison 573 (UC, US); Infiernillo, 22 Apr 1939, Goodspeed, Stork & Horton 11601 (GH, UC); 24 May 1953, Ferreyra 9200 (US, USM); Matucana to Viso, 27 May 1940, Asplund 11132 (S, US); Sangallaya below Huarochiri, 8 May 1953, Cerrate & Tovar 1775 (US, USM). HUANUCO: Near Huanuco, Haenke (B, photo 11357, F); Yanahuanca, Macbride & Featherstone 1160 (F); Ambo, Macbride 3148 (F); Yanano, 13-16 May 1923, Macbride 3812 (F, US). JUNIN: Tarma, Maclean s n (K); 20-22 Apr 1929, Killip & Smith 21806 (GH, US); Matucana to San Bartolome, 20 Jul 1914, Rose 18746 (US); Huacapistana, 6-8 Jun 1929, Killip & Smith 24209 (US); Concepcion to Ingenio, Feb 1948, Soukup 3668 (US). HUANCAVELICA, Tayacaja: Colcabamba to Paucarbamba, 24 Apr 1954, Tovar 2127 (US, USM). APURIMAC: Huancarama, 6 Nov 1935, West 3841 (UC). CUZCO: Cuzco, 1 Sep 1914 (fruit), Rose 19037 (US); Jan. 1937, Soukup 42 (GH, US); Sicuani, Hicken 9 (S); Gucay, Urubamba Valley, Jan 1927, Herrera 1463 (GH, US); Mantoc, Lares Valley, 8 Mar 1929, Weberbauer 7915 (F, US); Collutaro, Ellenberg 998 (U); Saxaihuaman, 28 Oct 1928, Herrera 2180 (GH, US); Jan 1931, Herrera 3085 (CH, US); 16 Nov 1947, Ferreyra 2620 (US, USM); Urcos District, May 1932, Stafford s n (K, US); Paucartambo: Kencomayo, 29 Dec 1952, Woytkowski 197 (USM); Quispicanchis: Paucartambo, Apr 1926, Herrera 1075 (GH, US); 5 Mar 1939, Balls 6684 (US); Quebrada Pumahuanca, near Urubamba, 31 Dec 1962, lltis & Ugent 993 (US, WIS); Acopata, Urcos to Quiguijana, 7 Jan 1963, lltis & Ugent 1216 (US, WlS); Urubamba: Machupicchu, Apr 1940. Vargas 1888 (US); 20 Apr 1951, Rauh & Hirsch P-844 (US); 21 May 1958, Reitz 5974 (HBR, US); 1961, 6213 (HBR); Ellenberg 865 (U); Chicon Canyon, 7 Mar 1939, Vargas 11091 (F, GH); Calca: Yucay to Calca, 29 Dec 1962, iltis & Ugent 920 (US, WIS). PUNO: Sandia: Oconeque, 22-25 May 1942, Metcalf 30575 (UC, US); without exact locality, 1839-40, Gay s n (P); 1921 (P). BOLIVIA LA PAZ: Near La Paz, Apr 1885, Rusby 2845 (NY); 1890, Bang 152 (BM, GH, US); 22 Aug 1901, R. S. Williams 2355 (NY); 14 Mar 1907, Buchtien 810 (US); Mar 1913, Buchtien s n (BM, GH); 11 Aug 1914 (fruit), Rose 18854 (US); 27 Jan 1939, Balls 5881 (US); 17 Nov 1948 (fruit), Foster 2561 (US); 20 Nov 1948 (flower), Foster 2577 (US); Cerros de Obrajes, Jan 1944, Cardenas 2403 (GH); Yungas, 1885, Rusby 2847 (F, NY, US); Nequejahuira, Cordillera Real, 15-24 May 1926, Tate 634 (NY); without exact locality, 13-21 Apr 1892, Kuntze s n (NY).

LOCAL NAMES. Ecuador: Passas (! Andre). Peru: Achupalla, orcco-achupalla, ccoe-achupalla, china-achupalla.

In spite of the extremes in size of flowers it seems best to regard Puya ferruginea as a single highly variable species. Any attempt to recognize the segregates of Mez and of Harms is frustrated by numerous intergrading specimens. The problem can be resolved only by population studies in the field. The transfer of this species to Puya has been discussed above.

Detail from Manzanares 2005 p318-9
OBSERVATIONS. Two populations have been found in Ecuador. The first was found near Guaranda, province of Bolivar, in the montane forest region. Andre named it P. echinotricha, currently a synonym of P. ferruginea. It is a polycarpic species that forms dense colonies with branched trunks. The petals do not have calluses. The second population grows on the flat plateaus of the Cordillera de Huaracayos, province of Morona Santiago, in the region of Amazonia, occurring among herbaceous or shrub vegetation. The plants of P. ferruginea that grow in the Cordillera de Huaracayos are monocarpic, with stems growing up to 150 cm long, without branches. At flowering, the inflorescence is seen emerging among the shrub vegetation and can reach a height of 6-7 m. The petals possess two long calluses at the base.
Smith (1974) united all the Puya species with ferruginous indument under this species, as synonyms. I personally believe that this requires a revision of all the type collections of the taxa as synonyms. This would permit the correct separation of species, such as the two populations of P. ferruginea growing in Ecuador, with clearly different morphology and habitats. Sadly, to this date, I have not been able to gather the material necessary that would permit me to make the separation of the two populations registered in Ecuador.
The ferruginous indument of both populations causes irritation and itching of the skin. Before anthesis the flowers are erect; they hang at anthesis, turning back to remain parallel to the axis.
The population of P. ferruginea growing near Guaranda, does not produce a new generation of plants from seeds, it occurs in areas where the agriculture frontier is constantly increasing and seeds do not germinate; it grows only by means of offsets. P. ferruginea is almost always found in dense colonies as living fences. The population of P. ferruginea growing in the Cordillera de Huaracayos produces a multitude of new plants from seed. Examples are found of newly germinating plants up to mature plants at the point of flowering. Most are found on the edge of the plateau, growing in abundant Sphagnum with high humidity. At first glance, the dense populations of P. ferruginea seem similar to the genus Greigia.
Until the two populations are separated into two different species, this Puya will be the only one that inhabits both the montane region and Amazonia.

From Mez 1935
86. P. ferruginea Ruiz et Pav. Fl. Peruv. III. (1802) 36.
Pourretia ferruginea Spreng. Syst. II. (1825) 29.
Pitcairnia asterotricha Poepp. et Endl. Nov. Gen. II. (1838) 421, t. 158.
Puya grandiflora Hook. in Bot. Mag. LXXXVII. (1861) t. 5234.
Pitcairnia imperialis Harms in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. u. Mus. Berlin-Dahlem X. n. 98. (1929) 790.
Puya echinotricha Andre in Rev. Hortic. LX. (1888) 565 et Bromel. Andre. (1889) 33, t. 11, fig. B.
Pitcairnia echinotricha Bak. ex Andre, Bromel. Andre. (1889) 33 et Bak. Bromel. (1889) 119.
Caulis altus, lignosus. Folia innumera, homomorpha, persistentia, super vaginam nec angustata nec petiolata, bimetralia, ad 55 mm lata, perrigida, margine spinis usque ad 15 mm longis, atris horrida, dorso lepidibus albidis obtecta. Scapus crassus altusque, ferrugineo-furfuraceus demum subglabratus, vaginis laciniose serratis, omnibus internodia superantibus obtectus. Inflorescentia myriantha, amplissime 2-pinnatim panniculata, ellipsoidea apicem versus sensim pyramidalis, metralis vel ultra, ad 0,5 m diam. metiens, tota cum sepalis tomento percrasso, ferrugineo, e pilis stellatis formato obtecta; ramis secunde 10-30-floris, suberectis vel inferioribus suberecto-patentibus; bracteis florigeris suberectis, late ovatis, acutis vel superioribus rotundatis, quam pedicelli saepius 60 mm longi subduplo brevioribus. Flores usque ad 0,14 m longi; sepalis usque ad 47 mm longis, crasse coriaceis,late sublinearibus, apice subrotundatis. Petala dispositione 1/2 zygomorpha, sepalis duplo longiora, virenti-alba, apice rotundata, callis 2 basalibus ascendentibus aucta, quam stamina longiora. Antherae ad 20 mm longae. Ovarium ad 2/3 longit. superum.
Bolivien: Rio Juntas (O. Kuntze). Peru: bei Lima (Cuming n.976, Ruiz und Pavon), bei Cassapi und Cuchero (Poeppig n. 1531), bei Chachapoyas (Mathews), bei Cotahuasi (Weberbauer n.6880), ohne Standortsangabe (Gay n. 1821). Ecuador: bei S. Jose an den Westabhungen des Chimborasso (Andre n. 4019). – “Passas” der Ecuadorenser. - War, als Puya grandiflora Hook., in Kultur. - Fig. 61.

87. P. Herrerae Harms in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. u. Mus. Berlin-Dahlem X. n. 98. (1929) 789.
Planta circ. 50-100 cm alta vel altior; folia dense rosulata, e vagina linearia, longissime in acumen tenuissimum pungens producta, saepe plus minus recurvata, rigidula, in sicco substramineo.pallida, margine sat crebre spinulis uncinatis brunneolis 2-5 mm longis horrida, subtus plus minus dense albido-flocculoso-lepidota, circ. 10-30 cm longa; scapus elongatus, crassiusculus, subglaber (juvenilis plus minus dense indumento stellato-floccoso ferrugineo obtectus), inferne foliis minoribus (vagina ovato-lanceolata pro rata longa membranacea pallida lamina breviore perangustissima spinulosa) quam internodia longioribus neque ea celantibus, superno bracteis vaginiformibus acuminatis (lamina minima vel nulla) instructus; pannicula ampla (ramulis plerumque paucis elongatis), multiflora, superne plus minus ferrugineo-floccosa; bracteae florigerae ovatae, mucronulatae, pedicello sueto longiores vel paullo breviores, juventute ferrugineo-flocculosae, serius glabrae, membranaceae, pallidae, 1,5-2,5 cm longae; pedicelli dense floccosi, 5-15 mm longi; sepala cum receptaculo brevissimo semigloboso vel late cupulato 2,3-2,5 cm longa, lanceolata, apice obtusiuscula vel breviter acuminulata vel mucronulata, margine hyalino, dense ferrugineo-tomentella indumento stellato-flocculoso); petala late lanceolata vel lingulata, obtusa, basi callis latis membranaceis apice breviter liberis dentem paullo obliquum formantibus instructa, 3,5 cm longa, ad 0,9 cm lata; antherae lineares, inclusae, 10 mm longae; ovarium anguste conicum, in stylum attenuatum, 7-8 mm longum. Peru: Umgebung von Cuzco, zwischen 3300 und 3500 m (Herrera n.61 {Febr. 1922}), n. 125 {1923}, n. 426 {Nov. l924}; Prov. del Cuzco, colinas de Saxaihuaman, 3600 m (Herrera n. 857, 1196 {Dez. 1925}). Herb. Berol. Einheimische Namen: Achupalla, China-Achupalla. - Non vidi; diagn. ex cl. Harms, l. c.

88. P. viridis Mez, in Fedde, Rep. XVI. (1919) 8.
E rhizomate brevi erectoque proles humiles dense foliatos emittens indeque densissime caespitosa, florifera (specimen cultum) ad 0,33 m alta, parvula gracilisque. Folia ad 10 quaquaverse subsquarrose rosulata, homomorpha, persistentia, e suberecto recurva, supra laete viridia subtus dense appresseque lepidota albida, ad 0,12 m longa, e basi 8 mm lata in apicem tenuissimum sensim angustata, toto margine spinulis ad 7 mm distantibus, tenuibus, patentibus vel retro uncinatis armata, coriacea. Scapus gracilis, erectus, ad 0,16 m longus et basi 5 mm crassus, glaber, vaginis paucis integerrimis, appressis, pallidis, mediis superioribusque quam internodia multo brevioribus praeditus. Inflorescentia perpauci-(5-) flora, specie simplex racemosa revera scapi vagina summa gemmulam in axilla gerente composita; rhachi tereti, glabra, pallide viridi; bracteis membranaceis, brunneis, glabris, e late ovato acutis, integerrimis, quam pedicelli longioribus et cum istis secunde versis. Flores pedicellis brevibus vix ultra 5 mm longis, validis, dense badio-tomentosis stipitati, secunde patentes, ad 27 mm longi. Sepala arcte conniventia, dorso omnino tomento badio densissimo obtecta, apice anguste rotundata; ad 12 mm longa. Petala clare viridia sepalis ad 10 mm longiora, lingulata, apice rotundata, erecte conniventia et deflorata contorta, ligulis callisque destituta. Stamina petalis bene breviora, antheris inclusis, ad 5 mm longis, stigmata contorta aequantibus. Ovarium ultra ¾ longit. superum.
Peru: ohne Standortsangabe. (Von Weberbauer lebend an den Konigsberger Garten gesandt.)

90. P. laresiana Harms in Notizbl. Bot. Garten u. Mus. Berlin-Dahlem XI. n. 101. (1930) 58.
Elata, ad 3 m alta; folium unicum adest, angustissime lanceolatum, apicem versus sensim angustatum, sparse vel sparsissime subflocculoso-lepidotulum vel subglabrum, margine aculeolis pungentibus haud crebris (in media parte laminae 0,5- 1 cm distantibus, inferne et superne densioribus), satis tenuibus, atrobrunneis, ascendentibus, fere rectis vel levissime curvatis, infimis 8-7 mm, mediis 6-3 mm longis instructum, apice tenui pungente, ultra 1,5 m longum, fere medio 2,5-3 cm latum; pannicula magna, rhachi validiuscula, flocculoso-lepidota vel saepe subglabrescente, complures racemos elongatos gerente; racemus qui adest unicus pedunculatus, circ. 45 cm longus, pluriflorus, rhachi flocculoso-stellato-pubescente, bractea fulciente ovata, pungenti-acuminata, margine parce aculeolata, flocculoso-lepidota, 4,5 cm longa; bracteae florigerae late ovales vel ovatae, obtusae, membranaceae, plus minus flocculoso-pubescentes, 1,5-2 cm longae, pedicelli l-1,5 cm longi; sepala lanceolata, cum receptaculo lato parvo plus minus dense brunneo-stellato-pubescentia, 4,5-5 cm longa; corolla glabra, longo exserta, fere 10 cm longa.
Peru: Dept. Cuzco, Prov. Calca, Lares-Tal, oberhalb Mantoc, an Felsen, 2500 m. Bluten grunlich (Weberbauer n. 7915). --Non vidi; diagn. ex cl. Harms, l. c.

91. P. consimilis Bak. in Journ. Bot. XIX. (1881) 266.
Folia homomorpha; persistentia, super vaginam haud angustata, anguste linearia, ad 0,5 m longa et vix ultra 15 mm lata, margine valide spinosa, dorso persistenter leprdota. Vaginae scapi percrassi supremae e late ovato breviter acutae, dorso paullo lepidotae, margine dentatae, quam internodia breviores. Inflorescentia multiflora, perlaxa, subpyramidalis, ample 2-pinnatim panniculata vel rarius subsimplex, ad 0,6 m longa et basi 0,4 m diam. metiens; axibus omnibus glabratis; ramis ad 0,2 m longis, ascendentibus, basi longo spatio sterilibus apice pauci- (3-5-)floris; bracteis florigeris dorso primum ferrugineo-tomentosis mox glabratis, subellipticis, breviter mucronulatimque acutis, quam pedicelli graciles, usque ad 35 mm longi permulto brevioribus. Flores usque ad 90 mm longi, secunde versi; sepalis ad 32 mm longis, linearibus, apice subrotundatis, dorso tomento denso ferrugineo pilorum stellatorum demum plus minus detrito obtectis. Petala ex sicco virentia, usque ad 87 mm longa, apice acutiuscula, stamina subaequantia, callis ligulisque destituta. Antherae 10 mm longae. Ovarium. ultra 4/5 longit. superum.
Bolivia: am Sorata (Mandon n. 1173, bei La Paz (Bang n. 152, Buchtien, Hauthal n. l74, Pflanz n.375, Rusby n. 2845), Yungas (Rusby n.2847).

92. P. cotahuasiana Harms in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. u. Mus. Berlin-Dahlem X. n.98. (1929) 788.
Perennis, frutieosa; caulis glaber vel subglaber; folia haud dense disposita, anguste lineari-lanceolata, in acumen longissimum angustissimum flagelliforme desinentia, subtus albido-lepidota, margine spinulosa (spinulis satis remotis, tenuibus, validiusculis, sursum curvatis), 30-60 cm longa, basi 1-1,5 cm lata, summa fere solum e vagina brevi et cauda angustissima longissima composita; pannicula ampla multiflora, e racemis compluribus composita, rhachi laxe furfuraceo-tomentella vel saepe glabrescente; bracteae ad basin racemorum e basi lata lanceolatae acuminatae, membranaceae, 3-3,5 cm longae; bracteae florigerae breviores latiores (1,5-1cm; juveniles minores), ovatae, apiculatae vel acutiusculae, hyalinae, tomento brunneo furfuraceo detergibili obtectae vel glabrescentes; pedicelli 1,5-3 cm longi, tomentelli; sepala lanceolata, apice obtusiuscula vel acutiuscula, cum receptaculo 5-6 mm alto brunneo-stellato-tomentosa, 2,5 cm longa; petala valde elongata, 6 cm longa vel ultra, basi 7 mm lata, callis nullis.
Peru: Dept. Arequipa, Prov. La Union, uber Alca im Tale von Cotahuasi, geogr. Br. etwa 15deg, offene Formation aus Cacteen (Cereus), regengrunen Strauchern und kurz-lebigen Krautern, 3000-3100 m. Bluten gelbgrun (Marz 1914, Weberbauer n.6880). - Herb. Berol. - Non vidi; diagn. ex cl. Harms, l. c.

93. P. latibracteata Harms in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. u. Mus. Berlin-Dahlem X. n. 98. (1929) 788.
Caulis dense vel sat dense foliosus, crassus, subglabrescens; folia lineari-lanceolata, in acumen angustissimum desinentia, margine spinulosa (spinulis brevibus plerumque satis remotis, in inferiore parte folii densioribus, majoribus), subglabrescentia (itaque etiam subtus subviridescentia), circ. 60-30 cm longa, superiora minora; pannicula ampla, e racemis elongatis composita, multiflora, rhachi validiuscula subglabra, rhachibus racemorum 15-35 cm longis inferne glabrescentibus, superne plus minus scaberulo-tomentellis (tomento detergibili); bracteae ad basin racemorum lanceolato-ovatae vel ovatae, basi latissima, in acumen pungens productae, 5-4 cm longae; bracteae florigerae crassiusculae, late ovatae vel suborbiculares, obtusae vel obtusiusculae (minute mucronulatae), concavae, 2-2,3 cm longae, plus minus tomentellae (tomento detergibili) vel partim subglabrescentes; pedicelli breves, circ. 1-2,5 cm longi; sepala anguste lanceolata, acuta vel obtusiuscula, brevissime vel vix mucronulata, cum receptaculo 5-6 mm longo brunneo-stellato-tomentosa, 3,5 cm longa, basi 6-7 mm lata; petala 7 -7,5 cm longa, paullo supra basin 7 mm lata, callis nullis./ Peru: Dept. Junin, Prov. Tarma, oberhalb Huacapistana, am Wege nach Palca, 1700-1900 m, felsige Platze zwischen Gestrauch (Januar 1903, Weberbauer n.1989; Bluten schmutzigbraun). - Herb. Berol. - Non vidi; diagn. ex cl. Harms, l. c.

Updated 08/06/25