OBSERVATIONS. P. barrigae is a puzzling species, because of its similarity to P. bakeri and P. altoatratoensis. The three have cylindrical, lepidote, brown-ferruginous inflorescences, and very conspicuous orange flowers.
During a trip in Ecuador in February 2003, Walter Till and I found P. barrigae in full flower, in the province of Esmeraldas. During the entire trip we discussed the differences between these plants, which are so close. We are grateful to Dr. Julio Betancur from Colombia, who sent us a series of photographs of the type collection of P. altoatratoensis (COL), along with an isotype of P. barrigae (COL), and to the United States National Herbarium in Washington (US) from where we studied the holotype of P. barrigae. We concluded the following:
• There is no difference between P. altoatratoensis and P. barrigae. P. altoatratoensis should be considered a synonym of P. barrigae. The small differences between both can be attributed to variations in habitat, from the habitat of the type collection. Both forms are found in the same region, the upper part of the river Atrato, in the Choco, on the road from Tutunendo to El Carmen, Colombia. In the description of the type (Systematic Botany 12: 412-413. 1987), P. altoatratoensis is related to P. brunnesens because of the spreading apices of the floral bracts, while those of P. bakeri remain erect and densely imbricate.
In the Missouri Botanical Gardens Herbarium (MO), I studied the specimen of E. Forero et al. 6065 identified by Smith & Read in Mar. 1981 as P. barrigae. I am certain it is the isotype of P. altoatratoensis.
The difference between P. barrigae and P. bakeri resides in the lanceolate, slightly extended floral bracts with an acute apex (versus ovate, densely imbricate floral bracts with a triangular-acute apex) and in P. barrigae the floral bracts do not disintegrate into fibers, remaining solid after anthesis, but in P. bakeri the floral bracts disintegrate into fibers and decaying after anthesis. Both species begin flowering with erect flowers. At full anthesis the flowers are at a 90° angle to the rachis, and after anthesis the flowers of P. barrigae hang while those of P. bakeri fall off. The sepals are lanceolate with an acuminate apex (versus oblong with a rounded apex).
The habitat of P. barrigae is in the Coastal region, the humid jungles in the provinces of Pichincha Esmeraldas, and Carchi, whereas P. bakeri is registered in the Amazonian region. p. Bromel Ecuador Eng ed2
