Neoregelia lymaniana R.Braga & Sucre
Literature references:
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Comments:
- by E. Leme in Journ.Brom. Soc. 39(4): 162-4. 1989
Neoregelia lymaniana was collected originally by Ruby Braga in the state of Rio De Janeiro , Petropolis county, between Itaipava and Teresopolis. According to its collector, the plant was very common where it was picked up. The place was marked by a tract of Atlantic forest that remained on the banks of a creek. In this environment the plant grew epiphytically.
The finding of this unusual bromeliad was important as it proved the existence of a second species belonging to the subgenus Neoregelia with compound inflorescence. This characteristic was known previously only in N. fosteriana L.B. Smith.
The specimen shown here was collected by E. Leme in an area ecologically similar to the one of the type, around Correias, Petropolis County . It is interesting to observe, as did the authors of the species, that the inner leaves of the rosette of Neoregelia lymaniana, shortly before anthesis present a transverse band of intense pink. Yet, as the first flowers open, this coloring begins to fade gradually until it disappears. This peculiarity is not observed in any other representatives of Neoregelia, which, even after anthesis, go on showing bright colors on their inner leaves.
Anyway, this species possesses peculiar characteristics such as: the petals remain erect and open very slightly at anthesis, nearly equaling the length of the sepals and presenting a short point at the top. It is quite possible that descendants of the type can be found in cultivation. On the other hand, a new collection of N. lymaniana will definitely guarantee its establishment in cultivation and its preservation ex-situ and still making possible additional studies and observations. —See Smith & Downs 1979
