Vriesea skotakii Luther & Norton (2011: 222)

Kessous, Igor M. & Costa, Andrea F., 2023, Novelties in “ incertae sedis ” Vriesea (Bromeliaceae: Tillandsioideae): Redescriptions, new combinations and nomenclatural revision, Phytotaxa 585 (2), pp. 71-101 : 90

3.7 Vriesea skotakii Luther & Norton (2011: 222) .

Type: — PANAMA. Darien: Serrania de Jungurudo, slopes of Mt. Garagara , 600 m, June 2003, Chester Skotak et al. Flowered in cultivation, September 2009, Chester Skotak s.n. (holotype SEL100277 !, SEL100278 !, isotype PMA); flowered in cultivation, 2006, Chester Skotak s.n. (paratype SEL095057 !)

Description: —see Luther & Norton (2011).

Distribution: —This species occurs in Darien, Panama, ca. 600 m above sea level.

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes: — Luther & Norton (2011) did not mention any diagnostic characters useful for generic delimitation (such as gynoecium and androecium details). In the diagnosis, the authors suggested that this species is close to Vriesea soderstromii Smith (1963: 52) (= Lutheria soderstromii (L.B.Sm.) Barfuss et al. [2016: 53] ), differing in the shorter floral bracts (35–40 vs. 60 mm), shorter sepals (20–25 vs. 37 mm), and green petals (vs. rose-colored). In addition, they mentioned the affinity of this species with two other species of Vriesea , now placed in Lutheria Barfuss et al. (2016: 53) and Jagrantia Barfuss et al. (2016: 51) , differing in the larger number of branches, shorter and narrower floral bracts, sepals, and green petals.

Despite the similarities to Lutheria soderstromii , the lack of specimens and information in the protologue does not allow us to propose a new combination with any other genus. New collections in the type region are necessary to determine the proper placement of this taxon. Known only from the type collection.

Etymology: —The specific epithet “ skotakii ” refers to the collector of the type specimen, a well-known bromeliad grower and hybridizer in Costa Rica, Chester Skotak.