Tillandsia lutheriana (J.R.Grant) Kessous

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 : 82-85

2.2 Tillandsia lutheriana (J.R.Grant) Kessous & A.F.Costa, comb. nov. ( Fig. 6 )

Basionym: — Vriesea lutheriana Grant (1992: 114) . Type: — COSTA RICA. Puntarenas: Angeles, between San Vito de Java and Agua Buena, Pacific side near Lanana , ca. 1,200 m elev., 16 January 1991, Skotak s.n. preserved as Grant 91-01475 (holotype CR, isotypes SEL!, WS, US!) .

Description: —see Grant (1992).

Distribution: —This species occurs as an epiphyte in Costa Rica, ca. 1,200 m above sea level.

Taxonomic and nomenclatural notes: —Despite the ligulate leaf blades (as commonly observed in Vriesea ), we observed morphological characters of Tillandsia subg. Pseudovriesea , such as the presence of a conduplicatespiral stigma and bluish-gray petals ( Grant 1992). Thus, the set of these traits and the geographical distribution (Central America) lead us to propose this combination in Tillandsia . This taxon is closely related to Tillandsia duidae , distinguished mainly by the robustness of its inflorescence and the bluish-gray petals (vs. blue in T. duidae ) ( Grant 1992).

In the protologue, the specimen at US is not mentioned; however, we found this specimen in the collection of types in this herbarium. Machado et al. (2020) discussed the morphological similarity between Vriesea lutheriana and species with compound inflorescences of the Cipuropsis-Mezobromelia clade (from Barfuss et al. 2016). However, this species was nested in a well-supported Tillandsia clade by its nuclear gene and partial plastome phylogenetic analysis ( Machado et al. 2020). The species is known only from the type collection.

Etymology: —The specific epithet “ lutheriana ” refers to the bromeliad expert, Harry E. Luther (1952–2012).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Tillandsia lutheriana (J.R.Grant) Kessous & A.F.Costa. A. Isotype, J.R. Grant 91-01475 (SEL; Courtesy of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens). B. Habit (Grant 1992: 117;). C. Habit and detail of inflorescence (Grant 1992: 115; Photos: C. Skotak). D. Detail of the flower and the petal (Grant 1992: 116). Images courtesy of the Bromeliad Society International (B, C and D).