genus Connellia N.E.Br.
Literature references:
Comments:
- Endemic to the Guayana Shield in southeastern Venezuela and Guyana (Mount Roraima).
Connellia is distinguished from Lindmania by the large, enveloping primary bracts, but the distinction is largely artificial, and the two genera should probably be combined. Connellia nahoumii Leme, from the Brazilian sector of Roraima-tepui, was described after this treatment was prepared [Bromelia 3(2): 13. 1996], and no specimens were available for examination. It appears to be closely related to the polymorphic C. quelchii.
Key to the Species of Connellia
1. Inflorescence simple; flowering plant < 30 cm tall 2
1a Inflorescence compound (though the very short lateral branches are often
covered by large primary bracts); flowering plant > 50 cm tall 3
2. Leaf blade margins and upper surface glabrous, drying pale green with evident white margins caricifolia
2a Leaf blades densely tomentose-Iepidote at least along margins, but also frequently on the leaf surfaces, drying brown with concolorous margins quelchii
3. Leaf blades serrate throughout; narrowed tips of scape bracts serrate; sepals lanceolate, acuminate varadarajanii
3a.Leaf blades serrate only near base, or if serrate apically, the teeth much reduced; narrowed tips of scape and primary bracts entire or nearly so; sepals ovate or oblong, obtuse 4
4. Outer surface of scape bracts and lower primary bracts glabrous or at most sparsely pilose (use hand lens); principal branch of inflorescence sparsely pilose nutans
4a.Outer surface of scape bracts and lower primary bracts sparsely villosulous in lower half and white-lepidote in the upper, narrowed portion; principal branch of inflorescence sparsely to densely villous augustae —See Smith & Steyermark 1989
