Pitcairnia altoatratoensis G.S.Varad. & Forero[as Pitcairnia altoatratoensis Varadarajan & Forero]| TABLE 2. | Specific morphological traits evident in Pitcairnia altoatratoensis and its allied species. |
|---|---|
| 1. Scarcely petiolate leaf blades | P. brunnescens |
| 2. Apparently dimorphic leaf | blades P. bakeri, P. fusca |
| 3. Relatively thick scape | P. brongniartiana, P. fusca |
| 4. Serrated floral bracts | P. brongniartiana, P. brunnescens, P. fusca |
| 5. Short and stout pedicels | P. barrigae |
The differences between P. altoatratoensis and each of the above allied species are listed in table 3.
TABLE 3. Characteristics distinguishing Pitcairnia altoatratoensis from its allied species.
| Characteristics | P. altoatratoensis | P. bakeri |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Leaf blade width | 3.5 cm | 8 cm |
| 2. Leaf blade | scarcely petiolate petiolate | |
| 3. Inflorescence length | 50 cm | 17 to 35 cm |
| 4. Floral bracts | persistent | disintegrate into fibrous bands |
| 5. Flowers | secund | ascending |
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Characteristics P. altoatratoensis P.barrigae
| 1. Leaf blade width | 3.5 cm | 4 to 8.5 cm |
|---|---|---|
| 2. Leaf blade | scarcely | petiolate petiolate |
| 3. Scape thickness | 3 cm | 1.3 cm |
| 4. Floral bracts | reflexed | erect |
| 5. Flowers | secund | ascending |
| 6. Petal length | to 6.5 cm | 8 cm |
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Characteristics P. altoatratoensis P. brongniartiana
| 1.Leaf blade width | 3.5 cm | 8 to 14.5 cm |
|---|---|---|
| 2.Leaf blade | scarcely petiolate petiolate | |
| 3. Sepal length | 3.5 cm | 4 to 4.5 cm |
| 4 Sepals | obtuse | acute |
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| Characteristics | P. altoatratoensis P. brunnescens | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inflorescence length | to 50 cm | 30 cm |
| 2. Floral bracts | reflexed | spreading |
| 3. Pedicels | stout | slender |
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| Characteristics | P. altoatratoensis | P. fusca |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Leaf blade width | 3.5 cm | to 10 cm |
| 2. Leaf blade | scarcely | petiolate petiolate |
| 3. Petal length | 6.5 cm | 12 cm |
Briefly, the combination of the apparently dimorphic foliage, relatively narrow leaf blades, reflexed floral bracts, and secund flowers provides a clear identity to P. altoatratoensis.
Edited from : Syst. Bot.. (protologue) .