AECHMEA CAUDATA v. EIPPERI by Derek Butcher in Bromeletter 6: 10. 1994
You can blame this article on Peter Franklin because you will remember him challenging me in Bromeletter March/April to translate fram Portugese to English the details of this rather interesting variety.
Reitz maintains this is a blue flowered "caudata", but Lyman Smith suggests this may be synonymous with Ae. organensis. The cynic in me suggests that because Lyman Smith based his key for subgenus Ortgiesia on petal colour a blue coloured "caudata" would not fit!
Anyway, I started translating that part in Reitz's book "Bromeliaceas" which I had been asked to do. Reitz clearly believed that his plant was closer to Aechmea caudata than A. organensis. According to Reitz it differed fram A. organensis by the strength and colour of the rhachis, the bracts exceeding the flowers and the ovary a healthy reddish orange compared to the wine red of A. organensis. I could not find a full description of this variety although this could be in Sellowia in 1965 when Reitz first described it (It isn’t!). All we really know is that this variety differs from the type A. caudata by having clear blue petals with darker blue tips.
I am sure that those who have read so far will be asking themselves why is he telling us this. The keener growers will be pleased to know that this plant is in Australia, AND authenticated.
Grace Goode tells me that the plant has a brilliant inflorescence, cone shaped with a wide flat base, deep blue petals with yellow sepals which gradually turn orange. Not an outstanding plant, but the colourful inflorescence makes it worthwhile growing. The structure of the inflorescence in no way resembles what we consider to be typical of A. caudata which is branched in the lower portions. The scape is very thick.
This last comment tends to equate with Reitz's comment on the strength of the rhachis. Normally rhachis means the stem within the actual inflorescence, and not the flower stem (or scape) but this could be a translation problem.
If all the other species in the Ortgiesia group are anything to go by, this should have had species status in the first place. It does seem that we should keep the old name Aechmea caudata v. eipperi despite it being misleading.
Harry Luther was involved when Grace first got her plant, and I did write to him seeking clarification because it seemed he disagreed with Lyman Smith's views. He confirmed that Aechrnea caudata v. eipperi appears to be an A. caudata with pale blue flowers. It is not A. organensis as far as he could see. BUT A. caudata appears to be a variable mess, maybe several things.
The Ortgiesia group is probably the most popular of the aechmeas in Australia, and there are misnamings galore. Just one example - what does a true Aechmea gamosepala look like. I have already written to the new Brazilian Bromeliad Society with a plea that someone looks at this group. You never know! (Bromeletter)
From Derek Butcher in Bromeletter 6: 10, 1994
You can blame this article on Peter Franklin because you will remember him challenging me in Bromeletter March/April to translate fram Portugese to English the details of this rather interesting variety.
Reitz maintains this is a blue flowered "caudata", but Lyman Smith suggests this may be synonymous with Ae. organensis. The cynic in me suggests that because Lyman Smith based his key for subgenus Ortgiesia on petal colour a blue coloured "caudata" would not fit!
Anyway, I started translating that part in Reitz's book "Bromeliaceas" which I had been asked to do. Reitz clearly believed that his plant was closer to Aechmea caudata than A. organensis. According to Reitz it differed fram A. organensis by the strength and colour of the rhachis, the bracts exceeding the flowers and the ovary a healthy reddish orange compared to the wine red of A. organensis. I could not find a full description of this variety although this could be in Sellowia in 1965 when Reitz first described it (It isn't!). All we really know is that this variety differs from the type A. caudata by having clear blue petals with darker blue tips.
I am sure that those who have read so far will be asking themselves why is he telling us this. The keener growers will be pleased to know that this plant is in Australia, AND authenticated.
Grace Goode tells me that the plant has a brilliant inflorescence, cone shaped with a wide flat base, deep blue petals with yellow sepals which gradually turn orange. Not an outstanding plant, but the colourful inflorescence makes it worthwhile growing. The structure of the inflorescence in no way resembles what we consider to be typical of A. caudata which is branched in the lower portions. The scape is very thick.
This last comment tends to equate with Reitz's comment on the strength of the rhachis. Normally rhachis means the stem within the actual inflorescence, and not the flower stem (or scape) but this could be a translation problem.
If all the other species in the Ortgiesia group are anything to go by, this should have had species status in the first place. It does seem that we should keep the old name Aechmea caudata v. eipperi despite it being misleading.
Harry Luther was involved when Grace first got her plant, and I did write to him seeking clarification because it seemed he disagreed with Lyman Smith's views. He confirmed that Aechrnea caudata v. eipperi appears to be an A. caudata with pale blue flowers. It is not A. organensis as far as he could see. BUT A. caudata appears to be a variable mess, maybe several things.
The Ortgiesia group is probably the most popular of the aechmeas in Australia, and there are misnamings galore. Just one example - what does a true Aechmea gamosepala look like. I have already written to the new Brazilian Bromeliad Society with a plea that someone looks at this group. You never know! —SeeReitz 1962
