Braun 2018 (Article) Pitcairnia [German]

An Interesting Discovery from the Border Area between Bolivia and Brazil: Pitcairnia volker-schaedlichii

Author(s):—P.J. Braun

Publication:—Die Bromelie 2018(1): 7-13. (2018)

German title:—Ein interessanter Neufund aus dem Grenzgebiet zwischen Bolivien und Brasilien: Pitcairnia volker-schaedlichii

Abstract:—The cactus specialist Volker Schädlich from Spremberg (Germany) has been travelling intensively for years in Paraguay and Eastern Bolivia, predominantly with the focus to study the populations of Gymnocalycium and Frailea in habitat. Quite often terrestrial, xeromorphic bromeliads can be found together with cacti. Already in 2003 he discovered a more or less inconspicuous “green rosette” in the lowlands of Eastern Bolivia close to the Brazilian border, at first listed as Dyckia, and after observing old broken terminal inflorescences also as Encholirium. It was all the more surprising when we saw the plants flowering.
The new species described here is characterized by a terminal inflorescence with striking big, 11–13 cm long, campanulate-funnel shaped flowers. This confirmed the discovery of a very distinct and new species of Pitcairnia, not of Dyckia. Pitcairnia platystemon and Pitcairnia chiquitana (Vasquez & Ibisch 2004), both occurring further west in higher altitudes, seem to be close relatives, but the new species differs from both in striking characters (Tab.1).

Published names (1):

Pitcairnia volkerschaedlichii