Wittmackia polycephala (Baker) Aguirre-Santoro (2017: 637)

Aguirre-Santoro, Julián, 2018, Taxonomic revision of the Caribbean-endemic species of Wittmackia (Bromeliaceae), Phytotaxa 336 (2), pp. 101-147 : 132-134

13. Wittmackia polycephala (Baker) Aguirre-Santoro (2017: 637) . Basionym: Aechmea polycephala Baker (1879: 164) . Hohenbergia polycephala (Baker) Mez (1896: 133) . TYPE:— JAMAICA. No locality, no date, Wright s.n. (holotype BM!)

Aechmea pycnantha Baker (1889: 44) . Pothuava pycnantha hort. ex Baker (1889: 44) . Hohenbergia pycnantha (Baker) Mez in Martius (1891: 274). TYPE:—no locality, no date, Morren Icon (lectotype K [Morren illustration deposited at the herbarium of the Royal Botanical Gardens (K), designated by Smith and Downs (1979: 1753)]).

Hohenbergia gnetacea Mez in Martius (1891: 272). TYPE:—No locality, no date, Morren Hortus (holotype G!).

Plant epiphytic or rupicolous, cespitose or solitary; rosette broad. Leaves 60–99 cm long, coriaceous; sheaths conspicuous, oblong to elliptical, 18–22 × 10–12 cm, pale brown, lepidote on both surfaces, entire; blades lingulate, 42–78 cm long, 6.2–10.5 cm wide at the base, 6–10.3 cm wide in the middle, green, smooth, lepidote on both surfaces, more densely on the abaxial side, apex initially rounded, then ending in a sharp and acuminate mucro, margins serrate, the teeth evenly distributed, triangular to hook-shaped, straight to antrorse, green, 0.3–1 mm long, apex initially rounded, then ending in a sharp and acuminate mucro. Inflorescence erect to inclined; peduncle partially concealed by the rosette, stout, rigid, 30–57 cm long, 5–12 mm in diameter, green, floccose, central internodes 2.1–2.7 cm, distal internodes 0.5–2.5 cm; peduncle bracts longer than the internodes, marcescent, membranaceous, nervose, pale brown, the central ones erect, imbricate, lanceolate, 4.5–10.2 × 1–1.5 cm, floccose abaxially, glabrescent adaxially, entire, apex acuminate, the apical ones suberect, imbricate, lanceolate, 3.6–5.4 × 0.6–1.2 cm, sparsely floccose, entire, apex acuminate; fertile part of the inflorescence cylindrical, 14–23 cm long, 4–10.8 cm wide in the middle, 1-divided, occasionally 2-divided, branches 35 to 60 in number, rachis straight, green, (7.2–) 10.8–28 cm long, 7–12 mm in diameter, floccose. Primary bracts similar to the peduncle bracts, gradually diminishing in size towards the apex of the inflorescence, forming an angle of 30º–60º with the rachis, marcescent, membranaceous, nervose, longer than the branches; the basal ones lanceolate, 2.4–7.5 × 0.6–1.4 cm, stramineous to castaneous, floccose abaxially on both sides, entire, apex attenuate; the apical ones occasionally shorter than the branches, ovate, 0.6–2.2 × 0.5–1.3 cm, stramineous to castaneous, floccose on both surfaces, entire, apex attenuate. Spikes globose to cylindrical, 1.9–5.5 cm long, 1.4–1.8 cm wide in the middle, sessile, 8–18 flowered; rachis of the spike 1.9–5.5 cm long. Floral bracts gradually diminishing in size towards the apex of the spike, partially enfolding the ovaries, imbricate, erect, concave, coriaceous, orbicular, 7–10 × 7.2–11 mm, stramineous to castaneous, both surfaces smooth, ecarinate, brown-tomentose-lepidote, entire, apex initially obtuse to rounded, then ending in a sharp and acuminate mucro of 0.3–1.2 mm long. Flowers erect, 7–10 mm long. Calyx dorsiventrally compressed; sepals coriaceous, triangular, asymmetrical, 4.4–8 mm long, 1.8–4 mm wide at the base, the unwinged side 0.6–1.4 mm wide, the winged side 1.7 mm wide, stramineous to castaneous, smooth, brown-tomentose-lepidote, entire, apex initially acute, then ending in a sharp and acuminate mucro of 0.5– 0.9 mm long. Corolla tubular, apically spreading; petals membranaceous, 8.5–12.3 × 1.2–2.5 mm, white, glabrous, occasionally sparsely floccose, entire, apex acute; petal appendages absent. Stamens included; filaments flattened, 7–8.9 mm long, 0.1–0.2 mm in diameter, white; anthers rectangular, 2.4–2.5 × 0.5 mm, cream, apiculate. Ovary ovoid, dorsiventrally compressed, 2–3.2 mm long, 4.8–5.9 mm in diameter, white, brown-tomentose-lepidote; epigynous tube 0.3 mm long; ovules globose. Style longer than the stamens, 8.4–11.3 mm long, white; stigma 1.1–1.3 mm long. Fruits ovoid, dorsiventrally compressed, 9.5–12 mm long, 5.4–5.6 mm in diameter, densely brown-tomentose-lepidote ( Fig. 15 ).

Etymology:— The specific epithet refers to the capituliform aspect of the spikes at anthesis.

Distribution, habitat, and phenology:— Wittmackia polycephala is endemic to Jamaica occurring widely in the island at 70–1000 m elevation ( Fig. 2 ). It grows on diverse forested or open limestone formations, and montane moist forests on soils of volcanic and metamorphic origin such as the Blue and John Crow Mountains. Collected in flower from February to December.

Conservation status:— Wittmackia polycephala is categorized here as Vulneralble (VU B1ab(iii); IUCN 2001) because its area of extent is about 3,000 km 2 and includes both well-preserved forests in protected areas and highly fragmented forests near urbanized and agricultural regions of Jamaica.

Taxonomic comments and affinities:— Wittmackia polycephala , like W. eriostachya , is easy to recognize because of the characteristic brown-tomentose-lepidote indument that covers the floral bracts and flowers. However, W. polycephala differs from W. eriostachya by its shorter leaf teeth (0.3–1 mm long vs. 1.2–2.2 mm long); primary bracts much longer than the spikes (vs. shorter), and sessile spikes (vs. stipitate).

Additional specimens examined:— UNKNOWN ORIGIN. flowered in cultivation at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 12 July 1993, Luther et al. s.n. (SEL!).

JAMAICA. Clarendon Parish: Peckham Woods , 760 m, 25 November 1953, Proctor 8223 ( IJ!) ; Mason River Savanna, 2.75–3 miles due northwest of Kellits , 700 m, 14 October 1967, Proctor 16727 ( IJ!) ; Broom Hall hills, 1.2 miles due southwest of Cave Valley square, 550–610 m, 16 December 1977, Proctor 37500 ( IJ!). Manchester Parish: Brown’s Town to Porus , 3–7 September 1908, Britton 3279 ( NY!). Portland Parish: between Lancaster & Moody’s Gap, 700 m, 8 March 1895, Harris 5569 (UCWI). St. Andrew Parish: Port Royal Mountains. Roadside between Red Light and Hardware Gap, one mile NE of Red Light, on river valley, 892 m, 18º4’13.3” N, 76º43’2.7” W, 20 June 2012, Aguirre-Santoro et al. 1800 (IJ!, NY!, US!) ; vicinity of Moody’s Gap , 10 September 1908, Britton 3421 ( NY!) ; Hermitage road, Stony Hill , 520 m, 20 July 1967, Page s.n. ( UCWI!) ; 25 July 1967, Page s.n. ( UCWI!) ; Hermitage Dam , 530–539 m, 21 February 1952, Proctor 6253 ( IJ!) ; 3/ 4 mile E.S.E. of Coopers Hill, Red Hills, 610 m, 20 March 1956, Proctor 11879 ( IJ!). St. Ann Parish: Grierfield , near Moneague. St. Ann’s Bay road, 3 April 1908, Britton 2684 ( NY!) ; Broom Hall woods, 2 miles SW of Cave Valley Square, 540–550 m, 6 February 1980, Gentry 28453 (IJ!, MO!) ; Lydford Post Office , 455 m, 20–31 December 1953, Howard et al. 13392 ( IJ!) ; vicinity of Mosely Hall Cave, near Blackstonedge , 610 m, 24 August 1952, Proctor 7207 (IJ!, US!) ; Forest Preserve, Mt. Diablo , above picnic area, along trail, 12 January 1967, Read 1746 ( US!). St. Catherine Parish: between Ewarton and Worthy Park, 380 m, 31 March 1970, Adams 13189 ( UCWI!) ; Hollymount , 790 m, 23 September 1962, Adams 24191 ( UCWI!) ; vicinity of Bog Walk. Bowers mood road, 2 April 1908, Britton 2620 ( NY!) ; Bog Walk , 17 December 1890, Hitchcock s.n. (F!, US!) ; Hollymount , 19–20 September 1906, Marble 737 ( NY!) ; Riverhead, 2 miles southwest of Ewarton , 305 m, 14 January 1952, Proctor 6137 ( IJ!) ; Juan de Bolas District, west of Point Hill , 18 July 1952, Proctor 6968 (IJ, US) ; along road between Bog Walk and Giblatore , 76–305 m, 15 November 1953, Proctor 8187 (IJ!, US!) ; 2 miles southwest of Riversdale , 140 m, 24 April 1955, Proctor 10155 ( IJ!) ; vicinity of Hollymount, Mt. Diablo , 850–950 m, 4–5 April 2005, Proctor 52354 ( IJ!) ; 4 miles SW of Ewarton along the road to Lluidas Vale, 480 m, 21 August 1992, Till 9022 ( SEL!). St. James Parish: Montego Bay , 22 March 1908, Britton et al. 2367 ( NY!) ; White Rock Hill, c. 1 mile south of Sweet Water, 610–670 m, 2 December 1962, Proctor 22997 ( IJ!). Trelawny Parish: woods along road from Barbecue Bottom to Ramgoat Cave , Cockpit country, 500 m, 25 January 1984, Bretting J-347 (IJ!, MO!) ; Mango Tree Hill , 540 m, 22 January 1967, Henry s.n. ( UCWI!) ; Ramgoat Cave District, Cockpit Country , 4 July 1955, Howard et al. 14436 ( IJ!) ; Alps district, 1.5 miles N.N.E. of Ulster Spring , 455 m, 22 August 1956, Proctor 16662 ( IJ!) ; vicinity of Mango Tree Hill, Cockpit Country , 550–610 m, 9 December 2001, Proctor 50041 ( IJ!) ; Island View Hill, 3 mi, N of Warsop on the main road to Albert Town , 750– 750 m, 18º17.222’ N, 77º34.556’ W, 11 August 2006, Raz et al. 674 ( NY!) ; Mango Tree Hill , between Burnt Hill Intersection and Spring Garden, 9 November 1966, Read 1730 ( US!) ; Mango Tree Hill ( Carambi Hill ) half way between Burnt Hill Intersection and Spring Garden, 5 April 1967, Read 1858 ( US!) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Geographic distribution of the Caribbean-endemic species of Wittmackia. A. Species occurring in Jamaica and Cuba, and species endemic to the western Caribbean. Star: W. caymanensis, triangle: W. mesoamericana, circle: W. penduliflora. B. Species endemic to Puerto Rico. Star: W. portoricensis, circle: W. antillana. C. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. laesslei, triangle: W. negrilensis, star: W. polycephala.D. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. rohan-estyi, triangle: W. spinulosa, star: W. urbaniana. E. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. fawcettii, triangle: W. jamaicana, star: W. inermis. F. Species endemic to Jamaica. Circle: W. abbreviata, star: W. distans, square: W. eriostachya.

FIGURE 15. Wittmackia polycephala. A. General habit of the plant. B. Young inflorescence. C. Infructescence. D. Young spikes and primary bracts. E. Rehydrated flower. F. Sepals. G. Calyx in cross section. H. Seed. I. Apical portion of the style and stigma. (A–D, F–G: Aguirre-Santoro 1800; E, H–I: Bretting J347. Photos of living specimens: J. Aguirre-Santoro).