Pitcairnia bifrons (Lindl.) Read

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1974. Pitcairnioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (1): 1-658. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pitcairnia bifrons (Lindl.) Read

  • Type

    TYPE. DeJonghe in Hort. Soc. London s n (CGE), without locality.

  • Synonyms

    Pitcairnia latifolia Baker, Pitcairnia fulgens Mez, Pitcairnia spicata (Lam.) Mez, Pitcairnia bracteata var. latifolia Aiton, Pitcairnia racemosa Schult.f., Pitcairnia fulgens Mez, Pitcairnia bracteata var. fulgens (Decne. & A.Dietr.) Regel, Pitcairnia commutata Regel, Pitcairnia bracteata var. commutata (Regel) Regel, Pitcairnia spicata (Lam.) Mez, Hoplophytum spicatum (Mart. & Schult.f.) Beer, Pitcairnia spicata f. latior L.B.Sm.

  • Description

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    Description - Plant flowering 7 dm high. Leaves possibly dimorphic but only large ones known, over 7 dm long, entire; sheaths narrowly triangular-ovate, covered beneath with appressed brownish scales; blades linear, attenuate, slightly contracted toward base, 20-30 mm wide, showing a median channel when dry, covered beneath with appressed scales. Scape stout, straight, white-lepidote; scape-bracts all exceeding the internodes, the lower subfoliaceous, the upper ovate, acuminate. Inflorescence simple, densely racemose, 18-27 cm long, pale-lepidote when young. Floral bracts ovate or lance-ovate, acuminate, 37-56 mm long, the lowest exceeding the sepals; flowers divergent after anthesis; pedicels slender, 4-13 mm long. Sepals lanceolate, acute, 20-25 mm long, ecarinate, glabrescent to glabrous; petals 37-52 mm long, exceeding the stamens, 8 mm wide, red or red-orange or yellow; ovary half superior.

  • Distribution

    Terrestrial and saxicolous, savannas and wet open summits, from near sea level to 1480 m alt, Lesser Antilles.

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