Distribution: Ecuador: Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Bolívar & Chimborazo

Habitat: terrestrial in gorges, roadsides and on walls made of clay used to separate fields, 2400-3000 m. Elev.

Etymology: Named in honor of Nancy Groves (1942-). Nancy was born Anne-Marie Walter after her Irish and German immigrant grandmothers. She studied in the U.S.A. at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina, Indiana University, and San Diego State University receiving both BA and MS degrees. She has lived over 55 years in California, and previously lived in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Florida. First introduced to bromeliads as a child, she was fascinated by ‘air plants’ while living in Florida. She finally found time to enjoy and study them when she retired as a Dean at Revelle College, University of California, San Diego after 41 years in 2004. Her primary bromeliad interest is in Tillandsia, but of course she loves all genera. She traveled several times to Ecuador to enjoy bromeliads in habitat, especially the Tillandsia species.