Searching for Pitcairnia multiramosa. By Vasquez & Ibisch in JBS. 55(3): 103. 2005
The valleys where Pitcairnia cantuoides was discovered are also the type locality of P. multiramosa. Indeed, this species was collected during the same field trip. Here we present the first photograph of this species to be published.
The type locality of Pitcairnia multiramosa cited by Smith & Downs (1974) is rather vague. It is indicated to have been collected by Weddell in the region of Azero, Chuquisaca. It is known that the medical doctor and botanical explorer Hugues d' Algernon Weddell (1819-1877) was collecting in the department of Chuquisaca accompanying the expedition of Count Francis de Castelnau in the mid 19th century (Cardenas 1952). The second known collection of the species was made by the Bolivian botanist Martin Cardenas in 1958.This collection is cited by Smith & Downs (1974) as well, but as the first one, it is lacking an exact geographical description of the locality. However, Cardenas, in his biographic book `Memorias de un naturalista' mentions the circumstances of the collection of P. multiramosa: "Cerca de la quebrada de Heredia, donde se siente un fuerte olor sulfuroso proveniente de unas vertientes termales, coleccione la hermosa bromeliacea de grandes flores rojas Pitcairnia multiramosa':' (Cardenas 1973) [Translation by the authors:" Close to the gorge of Heredia where one feels a strong sulphurous odor from the thermal springs, I collected the wonderful bromeliad with large red flowers Pitcairnia multiramosa".]
In October 2004, the first author visited the Chuquisaca department with the hopes of re-collecting Pitcairnia multiramosa. The Heredia gorge mentioned by Cardenas was not found on maps, but with the help of some local peasants it was possible to locate it. Arriving at the gorge, the same sulphurous odour was perceived that had been described by Cardenas. Other pitcairnias have also been recorded from the humid slopes of the gorge and surroundings. As the plants were not flowering it was impossible to find out if they really were P. multiramosa. Thus, several living specimens were collected and flowered six months later. Comparing the characteristics of the plant with the description provided by Smith & Downs it was possible to conclude that indeed P. multiramosa had been re-discovered. The exact locality is the following: Bolivia, Chuquisaca: Provincia Hernando Siles: km 102 de Padilla a Monteagudo, Quebrada de Heredia, 1250 m, 19°47'27"S, 64°02'30"W, 6 Oct. 2004, R. Vasquez, W. Krahn & R Musch 4969 (LPB, VASQ).
While distinct from Pitcairnia cantuoides, P. multiramosa is rather close to the variable and widely distributed P. paniculata. A careful comparison of both taxa is warranted. The main differences which separate P. multiramosa from P. paniculata are unappendaged petals (vs. petals appendaged) and serrate leaves (vs. slightly serrulate leaves) [Smith & Downs (1974)}. However, when one considers the enormous ecological adaptability and morphological variability known of P. paniculata in Bolivia alone, it is likely that there will be new synonyms of this species, and P. multiramosa could be one of them. —SeeVasquez & Ibisch 2005ap. 103
