genus Deuterocohnia Mez
Literature references:
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Comments:
- Deuterocohnia that were Abromeitiella By Butcher Oct 1999
In 1974 Smith & Downs had two species of Abromeitiella namely A. brevifolia with leaves to 22 mm long and A. lorentziana with leaves 50 to 150 mm long
In 1975 Wolfram Schultze-Motel of the Botanical Gardens of Berlin-Dahlem ( In Bot. Jahrb. Syst: 96 . 423 - 426 (1975) resurrected A. chlorantha from synonymy to a sub-species of A. brevifolia.
In 1983 ( In Bromelien Studien XIII ) Werner Rauh named A. lotteae.
In 1987 (In Bromelien Studien XIX ) Werner Rauh and Lotte Hromradnik described A. scapigera and published a new key for the 4 species but ignored the work of Schultze-Motel.
The fact that we now had an Abromeitiella with a scape caused problems because it was a link to Deuterocohnia!
In 1992 Michael Spencer and Lyman Smith merged Abromeitiella with Deuterocohnia ( Bradea Vol VI, #16 1992) but they too overlooked the work of Schultze-Motel!
In 1996 while in California I had a very enjoyable few days in Los Angeles with Dutch Vandervort's parents and, of course, quizzed Dutch about his "Terrestrials" I was able to become the grateful owner of a Deuterocohnia lotteae which took 3 years to become acclimatised to Adelaide conditions and flower. The other plant I acquired became a discussion because Dutch called it D. brevifolia and it was different to the D. brevifolia we grew in Australia.
In my PPC days (Pre Personal Computer) I had Peter Franklin of Raymond Terrace in New South Wales on Brom-l and he was able to report that Dr Walter Till had pointed out the existence of the Schultze-Motel paper. This started me on snail-mail with Walter and his view was that there were clear distinctions between the two sub-species. However, it would need more research and checking of herbaria specimens. They possibly differ at species level rather than sub-species and there may be links with the old 'pulvinata'. He was also able to confirm that the "Aussie" D. brevifolia was true but large because of optimal growing conditions ( 6 cm diameter) whereas the "Yankee" D. brevifolia I had got from Dutch was really the subspecies chlorantha.
Let us now read part of Schultze-Motel's paper in 'my' English ; "Mez (1935: 278 ) shows 3 species in the genus, namely A. brevifolia (Griseb.) Castell: A. chlorantha (Haum)Mez and A. lorentziana (Mez) Castell. (bzw A. abstrusa Castell). This varies from the decision made by Smith (1967:163 ) to make A chlorantha a synonym of A. brevifolia. In doing so he said "I was unable to distinguish more than two species of Abromeitiella. Mez's distinction of a small number of leaf spines for A. chlorantha collapses on examination of luxuriant live material like that of Marnier-Lapostolle that shows great variation of leaf spines on a single plant. Rauh (1973) confirmed this action"
In the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden A. brevifolia and A. chlorantha have been growing for many years in cultivation. Growing side by side the plants can clearly be seen as distinct by the teeth on the leaves as well as the growth habit. A brevifolia is vigorous and possesses entire leaf edges or toothed at the base. A. chlorantha, on the other hand is more dainty and shows that the leaf edge overall is clearly toothed. ---- It is feasible that the plant Smith mentioned was a hybrid.---- Following Mez ( 1935:279) A. brevifolia comes from S. Bolivia and also from the Argentinian provinces of Juyuy, Salta, Tucuman and Catamarca whereas A. chlorantha's habitat is the province of Tucuman"
Clearly, Wolfram was not impressed with Lyman's summary dismissal of A. chlorantha!
Meanwhile, I had a friend Chris Larson from Melbourne who was doing a trip to NW Argentina and I asked him to keep an eye open for the smaller Deuterocohnia. He reported seeing many mounds (or polsters) of plants where individual plants in the same clump varied in size depending on shade etc. BUT he did find in one area very small plants which I was also lucky to acquire from him. Here the plants were only 3 cm in diameter and closer to Lyman Smith's interpretation
So although I have never visited NW Argentina I soon got the impression of great variability in size. If Lyman Smith went so far as to treat A chlorantha as a synonym of A. brevifolia how could he possibly treat A. lorentziana as distinct purely on the size of the plant!
My current interpretation of the situation can be explained in the following Key
1. Petals Red or reddish lotteae
Green or yellow-green 2
2. Inflorescence With scape scapigera
Without scape 3
3. Plant To 5cm diameter, leaves shiny on top with a few scattered brevifolia ss brevifolia
appressed trichomes and a few teeth on the edges
To 3cm diameter, leaves shiny on top with scattered brevifolia ss. chlorantha
patches of hairy trichomes and many bristly teeth
on the edges
5cm to 10cm diameter, leaves dull on the top with many lorentziana
small appressed trichomes and a few teeth at the edges
I do not know the validity of the Schultze-Motel paper in 1975 according to the ICBN rules but I do not believe ignoring it is the correct course of action. Perhaps Harry Luther is another one not aware of its existence because D. brevifolia ss chlorantha is not in the Binomials listing for 1998.
- Abromeitiella brevifolia and A. chlorantha by Wolfram Schultze-Motel in Bot.Jahrb. Syst. 96: 423-429. 1975
Translated by D Butcher
In the high areas of Bolivia and Argentina lies the habitat of the Bromeliaceae genus Abromeitiella which grow terrestrially into metre wide cushions (Rauh 1973: 151). The genus is grown in Botanic Gardens (Encke & Buchheim 1972:79). The Botanic Garden of Berlin-Dahlem have Abromeitiella which goes by the German name "Polsterbromelie".
Mez (1935:278) shows 3 species in the genus, namely, A. brevifolia (Griseb)Castell, A. chlorantha (Haum) Mez and A. lorentziana (Mez) Castell. This varies from the practice considered recently by Smith (1967:163.) treating A. chlorantha as a synonym of A. breviflora. He asserted as follows "Unlike Mez ....and Castellanos.... I am unable to distinguish more than 2 species of Abromeitiella. Mez's distinction of a small number of leaf spines for A. chlorantha collapses on examination of luxuriant live material like that of Marnier Lapostolle that shows great variation of leaf spines on a single plant." Rauh (1973) confirmed this action.
In the Berlin-Dahlem Botanic Garden A. brevifolia and A. chlorantha have been growing for many years in cultivation. Although both taxa grow directly side by side under entirely the same conditions, the plants, as well as in their habit, can clearly be seen as distinct by the spines on the leaves. A brevifolia is vigorous and possesses entire leaf edges or spined at the base. A. chlorantha, on the other hand, is more dainty and shows that the leaf edge overall is clearly spined (agrees with the diagram by Janse 1968). The distinction is obvious and can be recognised at a glance. The plants with serrations have been grown for many years under the same conditions so we know that the differences have not arisen from changing conditions and therefore must be two separate taxa.
The above quotation and observation by Smith that the spines of the leaf edges fir the one and same plant point to a strong variability does not oppose this conclusion. It is completely feasible that the plant Smith mentioned was a hybrid.
My conception is that A. brevifolia and A. chlorantha rate as subspecies. Their range of distribution in South America are from distinct areas. Following Mez. (1935:279) A. brevifolia comes from S. Bolivia and also from the Argentinian provinces of Jujuy, Salta, Tucuman and Cajamarca whereas A. chlorantha's habitat is the province of Tucuman. It is possible there is a natural hybrid population between both sorts. This must still be explored
Abromeitiella brevifolia (GRISEB.) CASTELL. I divide into the folowing two subtypes:
ssp. brevifolia and
ssp. chlorantha (HAUM) W. SCH.-MOT., stat nov.
Basionym:Lindemania chlorantha HAUM., Ann. Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. Buenos Aires 29: 415. 1917 (syn. excl.).
Summary
On Abromeitiella brevifolia and A. chlorantha (Bromeliaceae)
Abromeitiella brevifolia and A. chlorantha are well defined taxa, which are treated as subspecies (A. brevifolia ssp. brevifolia and ssp. chlorantha). The plants were cultivated at the Botanical Garden Berlin-Dahlem for many years.
Description from Tillandsia chlorantha Spegazzini, Com.Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. Buenos Aires 1:87. 1899
Translated by Butcher
A beautiful species very distinct from Dyckia Grisebachii Baker
Deuterocohnia/Abromeitiella
In answer to my letter of 12 July 1997 letter Dr Walter Till wrote as follows:.
It took some time to get the types on loan.
You have sent me two photographs (AC20, DB32) which represent plants that I also have in cultivation under the name A. brevifolia. However, the type specimen from GOET (southern Bolivia) has slightly smaller individual rosettes (about 4 cm in diam.) and 2-3 spines at each leaf margin, leaves ending into a distinct brown mucro. Your "Aussies" as well as my "brevifolia" have more spines at the leaf margins.
The type of A. lorentziana from B consists of the terminal portions only. Leaves are entire or have 1-2 very small spines near the base. I cannot separate it from the type of Tillandsia chlorantha (= A. chlorantha) from LP except that the latter has a less distinct mucro at leaf apex. The diameter of the rosettes is about 6 cm. The type localities of both taxa are located within the same mountain ridge extending from southern province of Salta into northeastern province of Catamarca. I have such plants in cultivation.
Concerning plant size: I have seen Abromeitiella cushions in northwestern Jujuy province, in the Quebrada de humahuaca, where plants of different size are intermingled in one and the same cushion. This gave me the idea that I would stand in front of one species with two different morphotypes.
The plant figured by Schultze-Motel as to A. chlorantha actually is A. pulvinata. It should be regarded as a distinct species!
It is not yet clear how useful or variable the character of leaf spination is. I have samples several Argentinian populations of Abromeitiella in cultivation. If leaf spines really should be diagnostic, then we have more than two Argentinian species of Abromeitiella.
For the moment call your "Aussies" A. brevifolia but keep in mind that the situation and interpretations may change. The type of A. brevifolia is quite poor and I can not exclude that A. lotteae is identical with A. brevifolia! I am preparing a paper on Abromeitiella but do not yet have all the needed specimens in hands. Therefore my long hesitation to answer you in this matter.
A copy of Lilloa 1944 is enclosed which shows the following Key
A. Flowers 34mm long; sepals 16mm long; petals 32mm long; ovary 7mm long; Leaves 5-15cm long x 8mm wide x 4.5mm thick Lorentziana
B. Plants smaller in all characters
a. Flowers 31mm long; sepals 10-13mm long x 6mm wide; petals 30mm long x 7mm wide, ligules 5mm long; ovary 5mm long x 3mm wide; Capsule globose 9mm long x 9mm wide; Leaves 22mm long x 7mm wide x 2.5mm thick brevifolia
b. Flowers 21mm long; sepals 9mm long; petals 20mm long; ovary 3-3.5mm long; leaves 20mm long x 5mm wide pulvinata —See Bot. Jahrb.
