1. University Utrecht Botanic Gardens, e-mail e.j.gouda@uu.nl

Lyman B. Smith and Robert W Read (1979) described Guzmania testudinis from an incomplete specimen in Phytologia with a short description and a picture of the herbarium specimen of the type from Choco, Colombia at 2000 m elevation. More specimens were collected after that, from two more provinces in Colombia and five provinces in Ecuador (see below).

Harry E. Luther (1992) described a new color variety Guzmania testudinis var. splendida from Esmeraldas, Ecuador, with the note "This new variety differs from var. testudinis from further north in Ecuador to Colombia by having longer inflorescence branches that much exceed the primary bracts and white (not yellow) sepals and petals'" (see figures 3 & 4).

Study on several specimens revealed that there is some more color variation in the type variety. Floral bract color can be red (mostly the lower ones) to yellow and sepals as well as the petals can be yellow to greenish (often the petals are more greenish-yellow, slightly contrasting with the yellow calyx). The spikes can be compact, with the flowers contiguous with each other, hiding the rachis of the spike (see the beautiful cover photo, part of the article by Chester Skotak and Peter Bak (1992), or more elongate, and showing the rachis in part (see figures 1 & 2).

Several of the specimens studied from Ecuador are belonging to var. splendida and it seems that it is distributed in all the provinces where the type variety is found: Esmeraldas, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, except Canar, and there seems to be not much difference in elevation. As far as known, it has not yet been found in Colombia. An emended description from both living and herbarium material and emended distribution for both varieties are given below.

The type variety is very colorful, has stiff leathery leaves and seems to be not very difficult to cultivate and is worthwhile growing. It is not a small species, but has a narrow tank and open rosette, that does not take much space. The specimen in figure 1 & 2 was grown from seed by Peter Bak and collected by Bruce Dunstan (Australia) in Ecuador,...