Gouda 2021e (Article) Guzmania

Reintroducing Guzmania dudleyi L.B.Sm.

Author(s):—E.J. Gouda

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 71(3): 147-152. (2021)

Abstract:—Lyman B. Smith described Guzmania dudleyi in 1971 from a specimen collected by T.R. Dudley in Huanuco, Peru. A locally common understory species in cloud forest at about 1280 m elevation. Interestingly, the label of the type specimen mentioned a foliage length of 4-6 ft. (122-183 cm.), which does not show up on the type collections at US, NA, and F, which all have shorter leaves. Smith, in its brief description, mentioned leaves of 80 cm and the plant to 2 m tall, which also does not show up in the type specimen, where the estimated plant size is not over 90 cm. Understory plants can grow larger when they are in deeper shade and will not flower easily, so it is possible that some individuals become much larger than the plants collected for the specimen.