Orthophytum zanonii Leme (2004b: 72)

Louzada, Rafael Batista & Wanderley, Maria Das Graças Lapa, 2010, Revision of Orthophytum (Bromeliaceae): the species with sessile inflorescences, Phytotaxa 13, pp. 1-26 : 23

Orthophytum zanonii Leme (2004b: 72) , figs. 12A–J, 13F.

Type:— BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Pancas, Laginha de Pancas , Pedra do Vidal , property of Vidal Krause , ca. 300 m, 16 August 2003, E.M.C. Leme, M. Zanoni & E. Malgnago 5930 (holotype HB!) .

Plants rupicolous, stems elongate, ca 10 × 2 cm. Leaves arching. Leaf sheaths greenish-white, ovate, 2.3–3 × 2.1–3 cm, sparsely lepidote, margins serrate, prickles 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf blades coriaceous, slightly concave, red or wine when young, linear–triangular, 12–14.6 × 1.1–1.5 cm, attenuate, densely lepidote on both surfaces, margins serrate, prickles antrorse 0.6–1 mm long, apices mucronate. Inflorescences sessile, compound, many-flowered. Primary bracts coriaceous, green, triangular to very narrowly triangular, 3.2–12.7 × 1.8 cm, densely lepidote, margins serrate, apices mucronate. Vestigial floral bract present. Floral bracts coriaceous, green, asymmetrical, carinate, triangular, 2.1–2.5 × 1.2 cm, lepidote, margins serrate, apices mucronate. Sepals green, symmetrical, ecarinate, triangular-ovate, ca 1.6 × 0.5 cm, densely lepidote, margins entire, apices mucronulate. Petals green with white margins, linear-spatulate, ca 1.9 × 0.4 cm, glabrous, obtuse, apices cucullate. Petal appendages cupuliform, lacerate, ca 6 mm from base. Callosities conspicous. Stamens with antepetalous filaments ca 6 mm long and adnate to the petals, the antesepalous ones free, ca 15 mm long. Anthers green, ca 2.2 mm long, apices apiculate. Ovaries trigonous, styles ca 1.7 mm long. Epigenous tube absent. Ovules numerous. Fruits and seeds not seen.

Distribuition and habitat: — Orthophytum zanonii is only known from Pancas county, district of Laginha in the state of Espírito Santo. It grows on inselbergs in Atlantic rain forest between 430–550 m elevation .

IUCN conservation status: —EN B2ab (ii, iii). Orthophytum zanonii is known from a single locality with an estimated range of less than 500 km 2. A decline of the extent of its habitat may bring this species in danger of extinction.

Comments: — Orthophytum zanonii is similar to O. vagans and O. pseudovagans , all having an elongated stem. Orthophytum zanonii differs from O. vagans in its densely lepidote (vs. sparsely lepidote) leaves and coriaceous (vs. subcoriaceous) and concolorous leaf blades that become red (vs. green) at anthesis. In O. zanonii the leaf margins are serrated with prickles that are half as long as those of the other two species ( Leme 2004b).

The species presents a peculiar vegetative reproduction, forming extensive populations with lateral shoots emerging from the leaf axils and bract axils of the inflorescence.

The leaves may be densely lepidote with gray hairs when exposed to intense light conditions, but become green and bright in some localities of the inselbergs that are more shaded.

Additional specimens examined: — BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Pancas, Laginha de Pancas, Pedra do Vidal , 16 August 2003 (fl), Leme et al. 5941 ( HB); 5 August 2006 (fl), Louzada et al. 18 ( SP) .