Orthophytum roseum Leme[as Orthophytum roseum Leme]

Diagnose: —A O. burle-marxii L. B. Sm. & Read, cui affinis, laminis foliorum basi angustioribus (1.3-1.5 cm vs. 1.5-2.5 cm wide), marginibus spinis brevioribus (0.5-1 mm vs. 1-2 mm long), bracteis floriferis roseis (vs. rubris), sepalis minoribus (11-12 x 3.5-4 mm vs. 17-20 x 4-6 mm), roseis (vs. rubris), petalis etiam minoribus (15-16 x 4 vs. 18-25 x 6 mm long), antheris brevioribus (ca. 3 mm vs. 4.5 mm long) differt.

Observations: —Orthophytum roseum is closely related to O. burle-marxii, differing by narrower leaf blades (1.3-1.5 cm vs. 1.5-2.5 cm wide) and shorter marginal spines (0.5-1 mm vs. 1-2 mm long). The adaxial surface of the leaf blades of O. roseum is subdensely to sparsely and inconspicuously white-lepidote and the floral bracts are rose, as well as the sepals, inspiring its name. In contrast, the photographs provided in the protologue of O. burle-marxii show a densely lepidote-leafed specimen with the basal portion of the inner leaves and the primary bracts bright red, as well as the floral bracts and sepals (Smith & Read, 1979). Other differences of the new species are the smaller sepals (11-12 x 3.5-4 mm vs. 17-20 x 4-6 mm), petals (15-16 x 4 mm vs. 18-25 x 6 mm long), and anthers (ca. 3 mm vs. ca. 4.5 mm long).

Edited from : Leme & Fontana 2010. (protologue) Studies on Orthophytum - Part XI: Three New Species from Bahia and Minas Gerais .