Gouda 2019c (Article) Guzmania

Pitcairnia orchidifolia a nice, small and easy species worth growing

Author(s):—E.J. Gouda

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 68(4): 196-201. (2019)

Abstract:—Pitcairnia orchidifolia Mez (1921) is an attractive not too large and easy to grow species for bromeliad collectors. It has a nice soft foliage and beautiful flower color, with petals that start out yellow, but become partly to fully red at anthesis (Fig. 1, see also Fig. 4). It seems to grow well under humid and shady conditions in cultivation. Leaves are very densely white lepidote on the lower surface only, contrasting with the glabrous upper side (Fig. 2).
There is another name involved with this species, which is Pitcairnia grafii Rauh (Rauh 1988). Specimens of P. orchidifolia key out to P. platypetala in Smith & Downs (1974) - at least if you take the key to subgenus Pepinia. In the same work, P. orchidifolia is found in Key 2. under subgenus Pitcairnia, and possibly escaped Rauh’s attention for that reason. Instead, Rauh compared P. grafii to P. platypetala in his original diagnosis. Distinguishing characters listed by Rauh for P. grafii are also found in specimens of P. orchidifolia so the two species are here treated as conspecific.

Taxonomy:—Pitcairnia grafii Considered a synonym of Pitcairnia orchidifolia Mez (p.198).