Werner Rauh in Trop Subtrop. Pflanz. 53/ 1985 p29-39 created 5 varieties.
VAR . MACBRIDEANA
Plant long stemmed.
Leaf densely imbricate, 3-4cm long.
Scape missing or very short.
Inflorescence very short, 5-10 flowered.
VAR. MAJOR
Plant long stemmed. Living rosette to 20cm (-25) high, erect.
Leaf broad triangular, acuminate, to 10cm long, striking white lepidote, smooth, the back sometimes keeled.
Scape very short, not visible.
Spike long-oval-acuminate, to 7cm long and 2cm wide, to 15 flowered.
Floral bract densely imbricate, pink coloured.
Holotypus : Rauh 53 778 (Juli 1980), im Herb. Inst. f. System. Botanik der Universitat Heidelberg (HEID).
Heimat und Verbreitung: Mauern der Inkaruinen von Huamachuco, 2700 m, Dptm. La Libertad (N-Peru).
VAR. LONGIFOLIA
Plant flowering to 20cm high.
Leaf to 15cm long, narrow triangular attenuate, the tip rolled inwards.
Scape clearly visible.
Holotypus : Rauh 53 755 (Juli 1970), im Herb. Inst. f. System. Botanik der Universitat Heidelberg (HEID).
Heimat und Verbreitung: 25 km ostl. Cajamarca, 2500 m, an steilen Felswanden, Dptm. Cajamarca (N- Peru).
VAR. LONGISPICA
Leaf wide spreading.
Scape very short barely visible.
Spike to 10cm long, 1.5cm wide, erect, to 20 flowered.
Flower bracts densely imbricate, dark carmine,
Holotypus : Rauh 35 537 (Juli 1977), im Herb. Inst. f. System. Botanik der Universitat Heidelberg (HEID).
Heimat und Verbreitung : Zwischen Otusco und La Libertad, an steilen Felswanden, 3000 m, Dptm. La Libertad (N-Peru).
VAR. ATROVIOLACEA
Plant long caulescent spreading to form a loose cushion.
Leaf densely polystichous with erect leathery brown sheath and spreading to reflexed, narrow triangular, attenuate, twisted at the bottom, dark reddish violet blades.
Scape not visible.
Spike simple, mostly bent sideways, to 10 flowered, 5cm long, 2cm wide.
Flower bracts pink.
Holotypus : Rauh 53 856/a (Juli 1980), im Herb. Inst. f. System. Botanik der Universitat Heidelberg (HEiD).
Heimat und Verbreitung: Steile Kalkfelswande oberhalb Leimebamba, 2700 m, Dptm. Cajamarca (N- Peru). —SeeSmith & Downs 1977