Gouda 2022 (Article) Pitcairnia

How different are Pitcairnia schultzei and P. orchidifolia?

Author(s):—E.J. Gouda

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 71(1): 5-9. (2022)

Abstract:—A study of Pitcairnia schultzei Harms (1928) and P. orchidifolia Mez (1921) has revealed few differences between the two species. Both species have flaccid (soft) lanceolate leaves from a stiff and fleshy canaliculate and serrulate subpetiole (narrowed part at the base) and simple inflorescences. If we compare the descriptions in Smith & Downs (1974), see table 1, P. orchidifolia is often smaller than P. schultzei (50 cm vs. 35-100 cm), all leaves alike (vs. heteromorphic), leaf blades densely white lepidote (vs. sparsely lepidote to glabrous), that are ca. 20 mm wide (vs. 15–30 mm wide), peduncle bracts exceeding the internodes (vs. shorter than the upper internodes), pedicels to 14 mm long (vs. 4-10 mm), sepals 20 mm long (vs. 13-17 mm), and ovary more than ¾ superior (vs. 1/2 superior).

Keywords:—Pitcairnia schultzei, Pitcairnia orchidifolia