FloraPix

2481 - Bromeliads (Garden) - 2009-04-27
(Dimension: 1360 x 2050 pixels - Counter: 22233)
Fosterella penduliflora

(Uploaded as: Fosterella aff. gracilis)
Photographer: Eric Gouda
Note: ex NANTES Cedex 01 It doesn't key out right with Smith & Downs, nor with Ibisch ea 2008 (Sent: brom-l@nic.surfnet.nl)
Identification: solved

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Identification (2482): Harry E. Luther (2009-04-27) =F. cf penduliflora (Sent: brom-l@nic.surfnet.nl)
Add Note (2482): Eric Gouda (2009-04-28) - Dear Harry, It is totally different to other F.pendulifloras that we have. The leafs are soon glabrous (only slightly lepidote near the base and very fleshy succulent and mainly only 1.5 cm wide and abax. red (never seen in F.penduliflora). Sepals are triangular-ovate 3x2 mm. Branches subdensely flowered (not lax) and typically curved horizontal (not arching upward like in F.pend.)
Identification (2482): Derek Butcher (2009-05-03) =Fosterella penduliflora - This looks awfully like the plant in Baensch as F villosula which after discussion with Pierre Ibisch, I considered it to be F. latifolia which is now a synonym of F. penduliflora!!! (Sent: brom-l@nic.surfnet.nl)
Identification (2482): Jule Peters (2009-06-04) =Fosterella penduliflora - Dear Eric,
sorry for the late reply.
I think it is a penduliflora, which turned out to be a relatively widespread and variable taxa. Neither the red colour nor the indument of the abaxial leaf surface are very unusual for F. penduliflora.
Concerning the key - (maybe we should state that more explicitly) - the size of the leaf blades given always refers to the biggest, fully developed leaves of an adult plant. So the given range refers to widest leaf blades you can find in one taxa, not to the width of leaf blades within one specimen.
Have a nice weekend
Jule