Billbergia x claudioi Leme

Taxonomic Change:

• This taxon was considered to be a synonym of B. macracantha by Barros & Costa, Acta bot 2008 but we found that this paper had lots of anomalies in it. Harry Luther did not accept this move and I think we should follow Harry. (personal communication with Harry Luther)
• Considered a synonym of Billbergia macracantha —See Barros & Costa 2008 p. 1183

Comments:

• A natural hybrid between Billbergia distachia (Velloso) Mez var. distachia and B. vittata Brongniart ex Morel midway between the parents.
  
  
  This interesting bromeliad presents morphological characteristics intermediate amongst their probable relatives that happen in the same area, namely B. distachia (Vellozo) Mez var. distacha and B. vittata Brongniart ex Morel. The place where this new natural hybrid was collected is covered by forest in the secondary phase of regeneration. The altitude of the area is around the 1000 meters.
  
  B. distachia var. distachia can be found on rocky areas inside the forest, forming conspicuous groupings of populations, being in habit similar to B. X claudioi. In the same area B. vittata can be seen growing epiphytically in great thickets on the middle to upper part of trunk of trees. We observed that both supposed parents of B. X claudioi can be found simultaneously in flower, which facilitates hybridization since pollinating agents, for instance, hummingbirds are often seen in the area. Therefore, we concluded that we had a new one natural hybrid before us, whose characteristics would be intermediate between the two. —See Bradea