by Elton M C Leme in Bromelia March 1996
In an effort of be creative while practicing the art- or technique - of giving names to plants, man often tries to portray impressions, feelings or somewhat subjective traits that may come to mind or speak to the heart when faced with an unnamed plant. Look at Vriesea languida. Sense its lassitude, limpness, a certain prostration or despondency. Well, languid is its name - a clever epithet bestowed in 1943 by Lyman B. Smith, who was inspired by the pendulous inflorescence.
Vriesea languida was first discovered by Mulford B Foster in 1939< in Santa Tereza, Espirito Santo state. Today, more than 50 years have passed, and this bromeliad is still very poorly known. It is endemic to the mountainous region of Espirito Santo near Alfredo Chaves, Conceicao do Castelo, Domingos Martins and Santa Leopoldina. It grows as an epiphyte in the understory of the Atlantic forest, at altitudes above 600 m
The pendulous inflorescence is the trademark of this species, the dominant yellow color contrasting with the foliage which is often red. This small plant may reach 40 cm in height, including the extended inflorescence. A closer look at the flower reveals traits that remind us of the well-known species, Vriesea rodigasiana E. Morren, found from Santa Catarina to Northeastern Brazil (Bahia and Ceara). This species is probably closely related to V. languida, because the only real difference found between the two is in the inflorescence which is distinctly erect in the former and pendulous in the latter. V. languida may deserve infraspecific status, perhaps as a subspecies. But all this is not important as long as it retains its beauty. As long as the languid air or this plant keeps on speaking to the heart. —SeeSmith & Downs 1977
