Aechmea capixabae L.B.Sm.

Taxonomic Change:

• Considered a synonym of Aechmea victoriana L.B.Sm. —See Smith & Downs 1979 p. 1793
• Species resurrected from synonymy —See Luther 1996e p. 122

Literature references:

BSA (Web) FCBS (Web) Forzza et al. 2013: 390 J. Bromeliad Soc.: 46:122 Oliva-Esteve 2000a: 438 Raack 2020: 159, 160 Smith & Downs 1979: 1793,1794 Smith 1941a: 1:t72 Tropiflora Cargo Rep: 9(3) Wendt 2010: 37

Comments:

• Misnamed Bromeliads 16: Aechmea capixabae Harry E. Luther in J Brom. Soc. 46(3):122-3. 1996
  Aechmea capixabae L.B. Smith was first collected in July of 1939 by Mulford and Racine Foster near the city of Santa Teresa in Espirito Santo, Brazil. They re-collected it in the same locality a little over a year later. Apparently no living material was acquired, or more likely, none survived the rigors of the expeditions.
  Aechmea capixabae was described and illustrated in 1941 in the Brazilian journal, Arquivos de Botanico do Estado de Sao Paulo. The drawing is rather unlifelike and does not accurately present the habit of the plant, although the various details of the inflorescence are clearly depicted.
  At some point in the ensuing thirty-some years, the author of the species decided that A. capixabae was not a "good" species. In Flora Neotropica Monograph 14, part 3, 1979, A. capixabae is treated as a synonym of the quite distinct A. victoriana L.B. Smith. Adding to the confusion was the use of the drawing of the type of A. capixabae to illustrate A. victoriana. Fortunately, clonotypic material of A. victoriana has been well established in cultivation so the identity of this taxon has never been questioned. Because A. capixabae was not known in horticulture its validity has not been a matter of concern to horticulturists until very recently.
  At some time during the last few years, at least two introductions of A. capixabae have been made. The first apparently entered North American horticulture as Aechmea 'fulgens var. kautskyana", a fictitious name. At least this association appears to be more accurate than the unnecessary synonymy with A. victoriana. A. capixabae is closely related to A. fulgens but with smaller flowers and a differently shaped ovary. More recently the species, in a slightly darker color form, arrived with its true name. Aechmea capixabae is easy to grow if given moist and somewhat shaded conditions. It appears to be a bit more cold-hardy than A. fulgens but certainly should be protected from frost and freezing. Its only drawback appears to be the fear associated with pronouncing its name. —See Luther 1996e p. 122-123