Guzmania melinonis var. quitensis (hort. ex Oeser) Rauh
Taxonomic Change:
Literature references:
Comments:
- In the “Bromeliad Society Bulletin ", volume XVIII, No.4, 1968 there is a photo of Guzmania quitense where R Oeser gives a short but not valid description and puts the plant in close relationship with G. monostachia (L.) Rusby ex Mez. The structure of the flower spike and the white flowers are much alike in both species, but the colors of the bracts differ; those of G. quitense being mellow-pink, diffusing to white at the tips " (p. 94).
In the following edition, no. 5 of the “Bromeliad Society Bulletin " on p. 111 the comment that the “G. quitense is the local name for this bromeliad. Rightfully it should be called Guzmania melinonis ".
We are of the opinion that G. quitense is admittedly is not close to G. monostachia but is very close to G. melinonis Regel, but is a plainly distinguishable variety, and which retains the differences from the type in cultivation.
G. melinonis, from E. Regel in Gartenflora B. 33, 1885, p.116 incorrectly shown as G. melinoki, (after one flowering example in cultivation), without a location cited, is from French Guayana over Colombia, Ecuador to Peru and Bolivia a far dispersed species with a single colour, ellipsoid to short cylindrical, to 10 cm long inflorescence “exceeded by leaf rosette " (A. J. Gilmartin, 1972, p. 201; fig. 24-25, above). In the axils of the monochrome, shiny dark- cinnabar red floral bracts
are honey-yellow, more rarely white flowers ( Color-picture 55 in Rauh et al. “Bromelien ", volume, 1, 1970).
G. melinonsis comes from the old Quito road (Quevedo-Latacunga) close to the Hacienda. Selva negra collected by(Rauh & Barthlott No. 34442a, about 1000 m). A. J. Gilmartin, 1972, p. 202, reports a wider range of locations.
That portrayed by R. Oeser as G. quitense (nom. nud.), is therefore raised to the status of a variety of G. melinonis:
Variation from the type, also in cultivation, are steady permanent characteristics as follows:Scape long, erect or bent over, to 20 cm long, exceeding the rosette , white, glabrous. Inflorescence cylindrical, to 15 cm long and 3 cm thick, with white, glabrous Rhachis. Floral bracts dense, imbricate, longish-oval, 2,5-3 cm long, 2 cm wide; the basal ones with short, brownish, scaled blade, the upper ones only short tipped, pale carmine red. All floral bracts in the upper third pure white, sepals and petals always pure white.
The var. quitensis we found growing epiphytically, only above Sta. Domingo in the vicinity of the Finca Tina Lanja (900-1100 m), in numerous examples, Collection no. 34149 Rauh & Barthlott, in HEID.
The variety retains its splendid colour of the floral bracts in cultivation, also in the poor light of winter-months, and distinguishes itself opposite to the type by a longer flowering period. After flowering the floral bracts dry brown straw like. This decorative plant had been distributed earlier by Mrs Dr. Naundorff under the name G. quitense.
In the same area in 1975, we collected another form of G. melinonis , that was similar to the var. quitense with a strong long inflorescence, but in contrast to this had white, thin floral bracts and pale yellow flowers, Collection no. Rauh 38061. —See Rauh 1973-1991
