Hechtia lundelliorum is a cliff-dwelling species that inhabits high steep faces of limestone rocks in the canyons of the Moctuzema river basin, where it forms extensive colonies (figs. 1-3). The species is known from the states of Hidalgo, Queretaro, and San Luis Potosi in Mexico, growing between 225 and 1250 m elevation. The species is spectacular and showy both vegetatively as well as in flower. The size of the inflorescence, besides the abundance, color, and delicate scent of the flowers (figures 2,3), makes it a plant with great ornamental potential. Fortunately, the plants of the species grows at inaccessible places and are, in that way, protected from predation and disturbance.
Notes
Hechtia may be considered practically a Mexican genus. It has 56 species (Espejo et al., 2005; Luther, 2006; Espejo et al., 2007; Espejo et al., 2008; Lopez-Ferrari et al., 2008, 2009; Ramirez-Morillo, 2008), of which 53 occur in Mexico, and 51 of these are endemic.. As we stated in a previous paper (Lopez-Ferrari et al., 2008), Hechtia species are incompletely collected, and hence poorly understood. As a result of our explorations seeking Hechtia species to complete the monograph of Mexican Bromeliaceae, we found this spectacular species in bloom. Hechtia lundelliorum was never collected in flower until recently, when we collected it. The species was known only from a fruiting type collection and a few other fragmentary collections.
We collected and photographed flowering material of Hechtia lundelliorum (fig1.) and we include the most comprehensive description of this taxon to date. —SeeLopez-Ferrari et al. 2011bp. 60(5): 211-215
