Vasquez & Ibisch 2007 (Article) Puya [bi-lingual]

The bromeliads of Bolivia (VII): Puya sehuencasensis (Bromeliaceae), an overlooked new species from the Carrasco National Park (Cochabamba).

Author(s):—R. Vasquez & P.L. Ibisch

Publication:—Die Bromelie 2007(3): 146-155. (2007)

German title:—Die Bromelien Boliviens (VII) Puya sehuencasensis, eine übersehene neue Art des Carrasco-Nationalparks

Abstract:—In the early 1990s the upper valley of the Rio lvirizu in the Carrasco National Park (Yungas rain forests of the Cochabamba department) was selected for a case study on the diversity of the Bolivian epiphytes (Ibisch 1996). The study focused on the area around the locality called Sehuencas (quechua name for the Cortaderia grass) where extraordinary plant diversity is the product of high habitat diversity (almost 350 species of vascular plants on 0.08 ha; estimated diversity per ha: 1000 species). The site is characterized by a very humid climate with up to 5000 mm mean annual precipitation. The valley is type locality of several frog and plant species (eg., Guzmania besseae Luther, Bromeliaceae; Oliveriana simulans Dodson & Vásquez, Orchidaceae). The Sehuencas valley, reached from Monte Puncu (Spanish-Quechua hybrid term which means ‘entrance to the forest‘), is very bromeliad-rich. In the higher altitudes the following species can be observed: Puya humilis, Tillandsia rubella. T. sphaerocephala and Puya atra. In the lower, mostly frost-free forests (below 2200 m) Greigia sp., Guzmania besseae. G. gloriosa. G. killipiana, G. squarrsa, Racinoea flexuosa, R. schumanniana, R. seemannii, Mezobromelia pleitosticha. Pitcairnia trianae, Tillandsia biflora, T. complanata. T. fendleri, T. longifolia, T. stenoura and T. violascens were recorded. Additionally, 14 years ago, a Puya was collected which preliminarily was identified as P. ef. pearcei. Now, this taxon is proposed as a new species. Puya sehuencasensis R. V'ssquez, Ibisch & R. Lara, sp. nov., which is dose to P. pearcei (Baker) Mez but differs for the stellate indument which covers the inflorescence and flowers, except the petals and the genitals, the primary bracts which are to clearly longer, equalling die sterile base of the branch, the floral bracts whiich arc longer than the sepals, and the longer flowers

Published names (1):

Puya sehuencasensis