The Genus Greigia in Costa Rica and Panama by Jason R. Grant in J. Brom. Soc. 47(6):265. 1997
The genus Greigia is represented in Costa Rica and Panama by two species, G. columbiana L.B. Smith and G. sylvicola Standley. They are relatively large terrestrial sympatric species that occur in high-elevation cloud forests near the lower edge of the paramo of the Cordillera de Talamanca. These species are rarely collected or observed, likely due to a hidden inflorescence. All other bromeliads of this size in other genera in Mesoamerica have large erect-to-paniculate inflorescences. Non-specialist collectors may easily overlook these plants anticipating that a large inflorescence will appear at a later time.
Greigia columbiana is a caulescent herb that creeps along the ground (for more than 2 meters) before curving upward to a full extent of 1.5-2.0 m. It's a stately appearing dracaena-like plant that appears sterile from a distance. The inflorescences occur deep within the leaf axils, barely extending beyond the leaf sheaths. It can be differentiated from G. sylvicola by its larger size, usual occurrence as a single specimen, pink petals, and wide leaf blades (30-45 mm wide at the middle of the mature leaves on flowering plants) that are so densely lepidote beneath so as to give a sharp color contrast to the upper side. Greigia columbiana ranges from Costa Rica to Colombia. Representative specimens examined include: Costa Rica. San Jose: Canton Dota, km marker 65 Carretera Interamericana, near Cerro la Muerte, 30 May 1995, Grant 95-02355 & Rundell (US, CR, MARY, SEL). Panama. Bocas del Toro: Cordillera de Talamanca headwaters of the Rio Culabre, 6 airline km NW of the peak of Cerro Echandi on the Costa Rica-Panamanian international border, Davidsae et al 25245 (CR,MO). Colombia. Paramo de Romeral, Norte de Santander, Killip & Smith 18689 (holotype GH; isotype US).
Greigia sylvicola is a short-caulescent (to 1 m) herb that grows 1-1.5 m tall. It can be differentiated from G. columbiana in its smaller size and white petals. The plants often aggregate in groups, have more slender leaf blades, 14-¬20(28) mm wide at the middle of mature leaves on flowering plants that are nearly glabrous both above and below without much of a color difference. Greigia sylvicola ranges from Costa Rica to Panama. Representative specimens examined include: Costa Rica. San Jose: Canton Dota, near Laguna de La Escuadra, northeast of El Copey, 16 Dec 1925, Standley 41975 (holotype US); San Jose: Canton Dota, km marker 67.5 Carretera Interamericana, near Cerro la Muerte, 1 Jan 1994, Grant 94-02299 & Rundell (US,CR,F,MO,SEL). Panama. Chiriqui: 1 km south of the entrance to Parque Nacional La Amistad near Cerro Punta, 15 March 1996, Grant 96-02428 & Rundell (US). —SeeSmith & Downs 1979
Greigia columbiana var. subinermis Lyman B Smith of Colombia has been distinguished based on inconspicuously serrate bracts. It is possible that the Costa Rican material assigned to Greigia columbiana represents more than one taxon. —SeeUtley & Burt-Utley 1994p. 6: 147-8
