Guzmania gracilior (André) Mez
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Comments:
- In July 1980 we found on our trip in northern Peru along the new road from Pomacochas to Rioja-Moyobamba (Dptm. San Martin) on the eastern slopes of the Andes a remarkable dwarf guzmania with yellow bracts and white flowers, not higher than 40 cm. We assumed that it could be a new species, for we had never seen a similar plant in Peru before. But the classification with help of the Guzmania key of L.B. Smith led easy to G. gracilior, and the comparison with the isotype-material (LEHMANN 3660, U.S. Herbarium) confirmed our determination. But G. gracilior is only listed for Colombia (Prov,. Antioquia, Huilacaqueta, Cauca and Narino). It grows there terrestrial and saxicolous on open crests and slopes in an altitude from 700 to 2400 m. In northern Peru we found now G. gracilior growing as a terrestrial in 2200 m in a dense, dark, moss forest in association with Guzmania victoriae RAUH (s. Bromeliad Society Journal Vol. XXX 2) as well as saxicolous in 800 m on very steep and wet sand limestone rock walls, in association with some species of not yet determined Eriocaulaceae.
Contrary to G. victoriae, which is easy in cultivation, G. gracilior seems to be a little difficult: it needs moisture and cool temperatures. We were only successful, when we put the plants in pure Sphagnum and kept them cool.
G. gracilior is like other dwarf Guzmanias, a caulescent species. The stems are single, but mostly branched from the base and below the inflorescenses. The erect or ascending 10-20 cm long stems are covered with the old leaf sheaths and bear a rosette of short-triangular, recurved leaves; their sheathes are elliptic, 5-6 cm long, densely lepidote, dark castaneous at the base and finely purple-red striped above. The spreading to recurved blades are up to 15 cm long, 2 cm wide at the base, densely cinereous lepidote above and glabrous beneath. The slender erect inflorescence scape is 15-20 cm long and covered with sub foliate scape bracts, yellow at the base and green in the upper half. The inflorescence is laxly bipinnate with more or less 10 horizontally spread spikes; the lower ones are exceeded by the green tipped primary bracts, the upper primary bracts are shorter than the spikes and uniform yellow. The spikes themselves are laxly 3-6 flowered and distinctly stipitated (2-4 cm long). The yellow floral bracts are broadly elliptic, obtuse and shorter than the yellow sepals. These are about 8 mm long, half connate, broadly rounded and emarginated at the tip. The white petals, drying off brownish after anthesis, are up to 16 mm long. Stamens and style are included. Collection numbers: RAUH 53634 and 53845 a, July 1980. Locality: Road from Pomacochas to Rioja, 800-2200 m, km 400 to 322.
This interesting dwarf Guzmania is known in Peru (up to date) only from this locality. —See Rauh 1981e p. 31(6): 272-273