Margaret Butcher
In Aug/ Sept. 1990 the BSI offered seed of Vriesea paratiensis. 10 years later this rare Vriesea is coming into flower, or at least this is the experience of Peter Franklin of NSW. Australia. We say "rare" because the plant was only known from the type collection - Refer page 1398 of Flora Neotropica, Monograph # 14 , Part 2.In trying to identify our plant we read the following, "According to the Author (Pereira), Vriesea paratiensis is related to V. altodaserrae L. B. Smith and V. fluminensis Pereira, but it differs from both in its densely white lepidote leaves, wholly green inflorescence, and primary bracts that do not cover the sterile bases of the branches."
Clearly our plant is not V. paratiensis because the leaves are not densely white lepidote and the inflorescence is far from green. We were able to eliminate V. fluminensis but brought in V. procera into the discussion with V. altodaserrae. Reitz's treatment of V. altodaserrae in his 'Bromeliaceas' 1983 made us lean towards V. procera. Peter goes more for V. procera var. procera because it has a much wider distribution and must vary accordingly. I believe it is closer to the variety tenuis because of the shape of the branches.
Any other comments would be appreciated.