Pitcairnia roseana L. B. Smith, Contr. Gray Herb. II. 117: 27. pl. 2, figs. 22, 23. 1937.by McVaugh in Flora Novo Galiciana 1989
On rocks of old lava flows or rocky margins of stream-beds, 1000-1100 m as far as known, on the Pacific slope and in the basin of the Rio Santiago, flowering JunSep.
S Dgo. (Huasemote) (Rose 2325, GH!, the holotype; US!, isotype), Nay., Gro. Rancho San Isidro, w slopes of Sierra de los Huicholes, ca 10 km E of Jesus Maria (Feddema 1363); lava flows "3.5 mi" NW of Ahuacatlan (Feddema 431) (both collections cited by Smith in Smith & Downs, 1974).
Apparently distinguishable from Pitcairnia micheliana only by the leafy bracts of the lower part of the scape, the blades of which may surpass the inflorescence, and by the thin felted sordid tomentum which covers the exposed parts of the scape, the outer surfaces of the sheaths and sometimes of the blades, the floral bracts, and the sepals; the flowering season, as indicated by the few known specimens, seems to be a little earlier than that of P. micheliana.
Plants 40-60 cm high;
leaves up to 1 m long;
bracts of the lower third of the scape deciduous, the upper ones distant, or partly concealing the scape, 5-9 cm long;
spike 20-25 cm long;
floral bracts 2-4 cm long;
sepals 2.2-2.4 cm long;
petals linear, red, naked, 5 cm long;
ovary more than three-fourths superior; fruit 1.8 cm long. p. Flora Novo Galiciana
