P. flammea is a very variable species, six varieties having been described already. In revising the specimens of Pitcairnia from the herbarium of the. Museu Botanico Municipal of Curitiba, Parana, I found this plant on which I did not find enough characters to establish a new species however the clearly spinose margins of the basal portion of the leaves permit to separate it at least as a new variety. With more and better specimens available perhaps other characters can be found which will permit to separate this taxon as a distinct species. —SeePereira 1971-1986