Cryptanthus warasii Pereira[as Cryptanthus warasii E. Pereira]

Diagnose: —Planta rupicola circa 10-12cm alta, acaulis vel breviter caulescens, stolonifera. Folia circa 20, supra vaginam nullo modo angustata; vaginis 2-3cm longis, 3-4cm latis, utrinque glabris: limbis lineari-triangularibus, 6-12cm longis, 1-2cm latis, canaliculatis, acuminatis, pungentibus, crassis et rigidis, utrinque spissa squamarum albarum crusta opertis, membranae villosae instar, in cuius facie, tam superiore quam inferiore, marginis spinosi foliorum superpositorum lineata impressa sunt, in sicco circinati-recurvatis, margine quidem spinis patentibus, rigidis, pungentibus, 2-3mm longis armato, in sicco vero spinae retrorsum aguntur, ita ut limbo adprimantur, aciesque earum in basem foliorum versus curventur. Inflorescentia cum circa 20 floribus in fasciculos 2/3 florum divisa, qui ex axillis bractearum foliacearum oriuntur; bracteis florigeris cucculatis, obtuse carinatis, exterius albo-lepidotis, demum glabris praeter apicem, 11mm longis, integris, apice mucronulatis sed non emarginatis, sepala subaequantibus. Flores 20mm longi, omnes hermaphroditae; sepalis 11mm longis, lineari-lanceolatis, leviter obtuse carinatis, basi connatis, apice mucronulato, sed non emarginato, et albo lepidoto; petalis 17mm longis, albis, spathulatis, obtusis, in anthese reflexis; staminibus brevioribus quam petala sunt sed sub anthesim excertibus; antheris 3mm longis, linearibus, apice bimucronulatis; ovario subtrigono, 4-5mm longo, glabro; ovulis obtusis in ovario circa 6-12, apice loculorum affixis.

Observations: —This new species is closest to Cryptanthus schwackeanus Mez, from which it is readily distinguished in the thick, rigid leaves covered with a heavy layer of white scales, by the mucronate but not emarginate sepals and by several other details evident from the descriptions.

Edited from : Bradea. (protologue) .