Recognition of Pitcairnia corcovadensis (Bromeliaceae) at the species level

Pitcairnia flammea var. corcovadensis was formed by the reduction of P. cor covadensis. The re-establishment of the latter taxon is based on two points : (1) P. corcovadensis occurs sympatrically with P. flammea in many locatio ns, and (2) a morphometric analysis on a natural population involving these two taxa showed that they were distinct and no intermediate form was found despite their overlapping flowering seasons. Herbarium collections were ex amined to verify that this distinction is consistent throughout their geogr aphic distribution. Despite the apparent reproductive isolation, artificial hybrids can be produced between P. corcovadensis, and 1! flammea. Five mor phological traits were recorded for 221 six-month old seedlings from artifi cial hybrids and parental taxa that were grown under the same controlled co nditions. Analysis of variance and discriminant analysis on seedlings showe d the differences to be genetically based. A brief review of the synonyms r elated to P. flammea complex concluded that P. lancifolia var. lancifolia, P, lancifolia var. minor, and P pumila are synonyms of P. corcovadensis. A re-description, an epitype establishment, geographic distribution, descript ion and list of material examined are provided for P. corcovadensis.