Dyckia oreadica Forzza & Antar[as Dyckia oreadica ]

Diagnose: —Dyckia oreadica is most similar to Dyckia spectabilis (Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Baker, but differs by the following: smaller rosettes, 30–50 cm in diameter (vs. 60–120 cm); leaf blade 1.3–1.7 cm wide (vs. 2.2–4.7 cm wide); floral bracts with caudate apex (vs. acute, acuminate or attenuate apex); sepals 4.7–5.9 x 3.1–3.3 mm (vs. 7.0–12 x 3.0–8.0 mm), greenish with minute purplish-wine spots throughout (vs. green, yellowish green, or green with vinaceous apex); and petals cream except for a dark purple margin (vs. petals green or greenish cream, rarely with vinaceous apex when in bud).

Observations: —Dyckia oreadica is unique in the genus by the combination of the following: leaves spreading-recurved, forming rosettes 30–50 cm in diameter; floral bracts much shorter than the pedicels (1.5–2.0 mm) with caudate apex; and the colors of the sepals and petals. It is most similar to Dyckia spectabilis a species that exhibits great morphological variation and is difficult to circumscribe (Forzza 2005). Dyckia oreadica can be differentiated from D. spectabilis by the following: smaller rosettes (30–50 vs. 60–1.20 cm diameter), width of the leaf blade (1.3–1.7 vs. 2.2–4.7 cm); floral bract apex (caudate vs. acute, acuminate or attenuate); sepal size and color (4.7–5.9 x 3.1–3.3 vs. 7.0–12 x 3.0–8.0 mm; greenish with atro-vinaceous blotches throughout vs. green, yellowish green or green with vinaceous apex); and petal color (cream, except for a dark purple margin vs. green or greenish cream, rarely with vinaceous apex in bud). Additionally, D. spectabilis is typically found on granite/gneiss inselbergs in the Caatinga (Forzza 2005), while D. oreadica occurs in rocky fields in the Cerrado of Tocantins.

Edited from : Antar et al. 2021. (protologue) Novelties in Dyckia (Pitcairnioideae - Bromeliaceae) from the South America dry diagonal: Two new species, a new combination and a new name .