Guzmania rionievensis Rauh[as Guzmania rionievensis Rauh]

Diagnose: —Planta acaulis vel breviter caulescens, florens usque ad 3 m alta. Folia numerosa rosulam usque ad 80 cm altam et 80 cm diametientem formantia. Vaginae indistinctae, atrobrunneae usque ad 10 cm longae, 4 cm latae. Laminae anguste lineales, usque ad 60 cm longae, 1,5-2 cm latae, virides, basi rubro-striatae, in luce transmissa notulis modo hieroglyphicarum indistincte ornatae. Scapus inflorescentiae usque ad 1,5 m longus, basi 1 cm diametiens, phyllis scapi subfoliaceis dense circumdatus; ea vagina longa rufescenti-striata. Inflorescentia laxe tripinnata, usque ad 1 m longa, 50 cm lata, in ambitu late pyramidalis ramis lateralibus primi ordinis numerosis spiraliter dispositis usque ad 30 cm longis. Axis inflorescentiae tenuis, teres, glaber, rufescenti-brunneus. Bracteae primariae anguste triangulares, acuminatae rufescentes, glabrae, circiter dimidium ramorum lateralium metientes; ei rectangulariter patentes vel arcuati, 10-30 cm longi, basi bracteis sterilibus 1-3 spiraliter dispositis. Spicae usque ad 7 cm longae sub anthesin usque ad 2 cm latae, floribus 6-8 laxe et distiche dispositis divergentibus. Axis spicarum tenuis, angulato-applanatus, modice flexuosus, rufescens, glaber. Bracteae florales oblongo-lanceolatae, acuminatae 15-20 mm longae, ecarinatae, in vivo laeves, in statu sicco nervatae, rufescentes apice luteo, supra disperse brunneo-Iepidotae, sepalis longiores. Sepala usque ad 12 mm longa, oblongo-lanceolata, acuminata, posteriora indistincte carinata, usque ad basim libera, laevia apicibus nervata, lutea, supra disperse brunneo-lepidota. Petala verosimiliter lutea. Fructus gracili-cylindrici, 2,5 cm longi, 3 mm crassi. Semina pilis volando brunneis. Variat: var. rio-nievensis: planta tantum usque ad 2 m alta, spicae 6 cm longae, 2 cm latae, plus minusve 7 florae. Nr. coll. 63687 a var. laxiflora RAUH var. nov.: planta usque ad 3 m alta; inflorescentia multo ramosa. Spicae laxissimae, usque ad 12 cm longae, 2 cm latae, usque ad 8 florae. Nr. coll. 63687 b.

Observations: —There are 2 varieties
var. rio-nievensis
Plant only to ± 2 m high,( fig. 10; fig. 12, left); Spike 6 cm long, 2 cm wide, ± 7-flowered ( fig. 12, left). Collection-Nr.: 63 687a

var. laxiflora Rauh var. nov.
Plant to 3 m high; Inflorescence more richly branched. Spikes very lax, to 12 cm long, 2 cm wide, to 8-flowered,( fig. 12, right). Collection-Nr. 63 687b

because of the distichous flowers is close to the species of Guzmania with this trait, G. victoriae [s. Bromelienstudien, 6. Mitteilung (1976), S., 24, 354,], the colour of the bracts and the flowers are very close, however these are much bigger; the leaves are narrower and inflorescence has more branches.
G. victoriae grows in the deepest darkness of mountain-forest on the west-side of the high pass Pomacocha-Rioja on swelling moss-cushions, but G. rio-nievensis grows on strong sunny rocks with water trickling over them.
Therefore, in culture, this species is more difficult than G. victoriae.

Edited from : Rauh 1984b. (protologue) Bromelienstudien (Mitteilung 15). I. Neue und wenig bekannte Arten aus Peru und anderen Ländern .