C. pisiformis seems to be related to C. nutans because of its erect, long exserted petals. The most remarkable characteristic of the new species is the marked succulence of the sepals which are also sharply pointed. Such strongly succulent sepals are not found in any other species of Catopsis.
During a trip to northern and central Panama in July 1982, some new bromeliads were discovered, in particular, a very attractive, epiphytic, small species of Catopsis with olive-brown leaves and a short, decurved laxly bipinnate inflorescence. This interesting, new species is named Catopsis pisiformis Rauh because the flower buds resemble in size, color and shape those of the common garden pea, Pisum sativum. It grows in a humid mountain forest above Valle de Anton at an elevation of about 900 m where it is associated with many other bromeliads, both epiphytic and terrestrial. Among them are Tillandsia guanacastensis, T. spiculosa var. ustulata, T. bulbosa, Guzmania musaica and G. musaica var. concolor, G. dissitiflora, G. nicaraguensis, G. plicatifolia, Vriesea graminifolia, V. ringens, some large species of Vriesea with funnelform rosettes but without inflorescences, and Ronnbergia explodens. In addition to the bromeliads, and of particular interest was Stegolepis allienii, a representative of the endemic family Rapataceae. This family is closely related to the Bromeliaceae and most of the species placed in it grow as terrestrials in a humid, sandy or swampy substrate. Stegolepis allienii is an epiphyte, however, and has a growth form similar to that of the bird's nest fern: Asplenium nidus. Growing in the same forest was the truly rare epiphyte fern, Solanopteris brunonis, whose short branches are transformed into hollow bulbs which are populated with ants. —SeeRauh 1983jp. 33(5): 200-204
