EXAMINATION OF CRYPTANTHUS PSEUDOSCAPOSUS by Harry Luther in Crypt Soc Journ 2(4):11. 1987
After examining the isotypes of Cryptanthus pseudoscaposus L.B. Smith and C. scaposus E. Pereira, both at the U.S. Herbarium, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. These two species are very closely related but can be distinguished by several characters, not all of which are apparent from the published descriptions.
2. The variety, kautskyanus E. Pereira, does not seem warranted after examining additional cultivated material supplied by B. Whitman and cultivated at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, especially as these two taxa apparently occur intermingled in nature and intermediates exist.
3. Study of genus Cryptanthus must include study and manipulation of living plants to learn the extent of phenotypic variation.
Cryptanthus pseudoscaposus may be distinguished by its UNDULATE, lanceolate (SUBPETIOLATE) leaf blades, sepals and floral bracts NOT OVER 10-12 mm long and by the PRODUCTION OF AN APICALVEGETATIVE PROLIFERATION OF THE INFLORESCENCE. This species DOES produce a true scape!
Cryptanthus scaposus may be distinguished by its STRAIGHT (not undulate), linear (EVENLY TAPERING) leaf blades, sepals and floral bracts TO 14-17 mm long and NO APICAL OFFSETS PRODUCED, only basal ones.
Several clones of C. scaposus are in cultivation. Only one clone of C. pseudoscaposus has been seen and this plant was obtained as C. scaposus.
MY NAME IS NOT CASCADE by Bob Whitman Beaumont, Texas in CSJ 2(4): 11-2. 1987
Mulford B. Foster discovered his third new species of Cryptanthus growing on rocky ledges at about 75 meters (246 feet) in moist, shaded conditions on the road to Camtinhos out of Vitoria at Domingos Martins in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, July 14, 1939. Racine Foster recalls the plant was very unusual - quite unlike any other member of the genus - because its flower head rose up from the leaf rosette on a thick scape-like member . —SeeSmith & Downs 1979