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Phytotaxa 607 (1): 001–007
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Copyright © 2023 Magnolia Press Article PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
Accepted by Eric J. Gouda: 20 Jul. 2023; published: 3 Aug. 2023
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.607.1.1
1
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-N.C. 4.0 International https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Viridantha minuscula (Tillandsioideae; Bromeliaceae), a new species from
Guanajuato, Mexico
RODRIGO ALEJANDRO HERNÁNDEZ-CÁRDENAS1,4,*, ADOLFO ESPEJO-SERNA1,5, ANA ROSA LÓPEZ-
FERRARI1,6, JOSÉ VICCON-ESQUIVEL2,7 & TECOATLAYOPEUH NELLY SANDOVAL-MATA3,8
1 Herbario Metropolitano, Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma
Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, México
2 Jardín Botánico El Charco del Ingenio, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato 37720, México
3 Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, México
4
ralejandrohc@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5903-4393
5
aes@xanum.uam.mx; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7192-4612
6
arlf@xanum.uam.mx; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1071-7075
7
elcharcobotanica@gmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4265-9706
8
greenelie74@hotmail.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0994-9231
*Author for correspondence:
ralejandrohc@gmail.com
Abstract
Viridantha minuscula from the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, is described and illustrated as new to science. The proposed
taxon is compared to V. lepidosepala and V. tortilis, species with the most similarities. Images and a distribution map of the
taxa involved are provided.
Keywords: Endemism, Mexico, Monocots, Poales
Resumen
Se describe e ilustra Viridantha minuscula, especie nueva del estado de Guanajuato, México. El taxon propuesto se compara
con V. lepidosepala y V. tortilis, especies con las cuales presenta algunas similitudes. Se proporcionan imágenes y un mapa
de distribución de los taxa involucrados.
Palabrasclave: Endemismo, México, Monocotiledóneas, Poales
Introduction
In the subfamily Tillandsioideae (Barfuss et al. 2016; Leme et al. 2017), twenty-two genera were recognized. The genus
Viridantha Espejo-Serna (2002: 27) and the Tillandsia tectorum Morren (1877: 328) complex (Hromadnik 2005) were
circumscribed as Tillandsia subgenus Viridantha (Barfuss et al. 2016). However, the subgeneric classification and the
clades proposed in Tillandsia Linnaeus (1753: 286) are not fully supported and require more detailed studies (Barfuss
et al. 2016). Furthermore, in some phylogenies so far (Barfuss et al. 2016; Machado et al. 2020; Vera-Paz et al. 2022)
Tillandsia emerged as polyphyletic or paraphyletic and, consequently, its validity as a formal taxonomic entity (genus)
is questionable. On the other hand, Viridantha has always emerged as monophyletic and related to the T. tectorum
complex (Barfuss et al. 2016). In addition, Viridantha species present a congruent morphology and geographical
distribution (Hernández-Cárdenas 2021).
Viridantha species are herbaceous plants with leaves arranged in acaulescent to shortly caulescent rosettes;
protandrous flowers with the petals mostly dark green towards the apex and white towards the base; included stamens
equal in length, with filiform filaments and sub-basifixed anthers, and simple-erect type style branches (Espejo-Serna
2002). The genus is endemic to Mexico and includes 18 species (Hernández-Cárdenas et al. 2018, 2019, 2021).
The taxa of Tillandsia tectorum complex are clearly distinct from those of Viridantha by the presence of often large
HERNÁNDEZ-CÁRDENAS ET AL.
2 • Phytotaxa 607 (1) © 2023 Magnolia Press
caulescent rosettes and petals purple towards the apex and white towards the base; besides the taxa of T. tectorum
clade are endemic to northern Peru and southern Ecuador (Hromadnik 2005). For these reasons, we prefer to maintain
Viridantha as a genus.
As a result of botanical explorations for the project Bromeliaceae of Mexico, we collected some individuals of
Viridantha in the municipality of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato. Initially, we thought that this material could
correspond to V. lepidosepala (Smith 1935: 155) Espejo-Serna (2002: 31–32). After a careful and detailed revision of
the living material, herbarium specimens, type material, and protologues, we conclude that this population pertains to
an undescribed taxon that we propose here.
Material & Methods
Plants were collected in San Miguel de Allende municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The gathering of the
specimens was carried out in accordance with Aguirre León (1986). Measurements and description were prepared from
live and mostly from dry material. The morphological terms used in the description are those proposed by Radford et al.
(1974) and Scharf & Gouda (2008). The type material was deposited at UAMIZ, MEXU, and WLM (acronyms according
to Thiers (2023 [continuously updated])). We revised herbarium material of the genus Viridantha deposited at ENCB,
FCME, IBUG, IEB, MEXU, QMEX, UAMIZ, WLM, and XAL. To ensure the status of the proposed new species, we
reviewed protologues, living specimens, as well as herbarium specimens and type material of V. lepidosepala and V.
tortilis (Baker 1887: 237–238) Espejo-Serna (2002: 32–35), taxa morphologically similar (Appendix 1). We use the
vegetation types proposed by Rzedowski (1978) and the biogeographic provinces proposed by Morrone et al. (2017).
Taxonomy
Viridantha minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., sp. nov. (Figs. 1, 2, 3B, 3B1. Table 1)
FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Viridantha lepidosepala (L.B. Sm.) Espejo, V. minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., and V.
tortilis (Klotzsch ex Baker) Espejo.
A NEW SPECIES OF VIRIDANTHA Phytotaxa 607 (1) © 2023 Magnolia Press • 3
FIGURE 2. Viridantha minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr. A. Ravine that crosses the zone of El Charco del Ingenio, the
habitat of the species. B. View of the ravine walls. C. Plants on cliffs. D. Clump of rosettes. E. Plant in bloom. F. Spike. G. Flower with
floral bract. G1. Floral bract. G2. Sepals. G3. Petals. G4. Stamens. G5. Pistil. (Photographs A–D, F–G5 by R. Hernández-Cárdenas; E by
A. Espejo-Serna).
The new species is similar to Viridantha lepidosepala but differs in the size of the leaf blades (4–5 × 0.3–0.4 vs. 7–12
× 0.5–0.8 cm), in the characteristics of the peduncle (conspicuous vs. inconspicuous, 1–1.5 vs. 3–4 mm diameter), in
HERNÁNDEZ-CÁRDENAS ET AL.
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the length of the peduncle bracts (shorter than the inflorescence vs. longer than the inflorescence), and in the length of
the petals (2.5–2.8 vs. 1.5–2.5 cm).
TYPE:
✁✂✄☎✆✝✞ ✟✠✡☛✡☞✠✡✌✍✎ ✏✠☛✑✒✑✓✑✍ ✔✕ ✖✡☛ ✁✑✗✠✕✘ ✔✕ ✙✘✘✕☛✔✕✚ ✛✘ ✆✜✡✢✒✍ ✔✕✘ ☎☛✗✕☛✑✍ ✣✤✥✦✧✧★✥✩✞✪✫✬✭✚
✮✥✥✦✯✰★✯✯✞✱✫✬✲✳✚ ✤✚✥✥✥ ✏✚ ✴✡☛✠✡✢✵ ✰✚ ✤✥✤✰✚
R. Hernández-Cárdenas, J. Viccon-Esquivel & S. Lara-Godínez 2648
(holotype UAMIZ!, isotypes MEXU!, WLM!).
Plants saxicolous, flowering 6–8 cm tall, 7–8 cm in diameter; rosettes short caulescent, irregular in outline,
forming clumps of many rosettes. Leaves 13–16, shorter than or equal to the inflorescence; sheath yellow green, pale
brown when dry on both surfaces, very widely ovate, 8–10 mm long, 8–10 mm wide, glabrous at the base and lepidote
distally on both surfaces; blade densely grey lepidote, very narrowly triangular, 4–5 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, attenuate,
divaricate to ascending. Inflorescence pedunculate, erect, simple; peduncle conspicuous, green, pale brown when
dry, 1–2 cm long, 1–1.5 mm in diameter, glabrous; peduncle bracts similar to the leaves but reducing in size distally,
shorter than the inflorescence, densely grey lepidote. Spike red rose, pale rose when dry, flattened, narrowly elliptic,
2.5–3 cm long, 8–10 mm wide, 2–4 flowered; floral bracts red rose at the apex, yellow green towards the base, pale
rose when dry, ovate when extended, 1.5–2 cm long, 6–8 mm wide, apex acute to acuminate, slightly nerved, carinate
at the apex, glabrous adaxially, lepidote abaxially. Flowers distichous, erect and appressed to the rachis; sepals red-
rose at the apex, yellow green towards the base, narrowly ovate, 1.2–1.5 cm long, 4–5 mm wide, apex acuminate, the
two adaxial ones carinate, free, glabrous adaxially, scatteredly lepidote abaxially; petals white in its basal half, dark
green in its apical half, narrowly oblong, 2.5–2.8 cm long, 3–4 mm wide, apex rounded to obtuse; stamens all equal;
filaments white, filiform, 1.7–2 cm long; anthers pale green, pale brown when dry, 3–4 mm long; ovary green, pale
green when dry, ovoid to globose, 3–5 mm long, 3–4 mm in diameter; style white, pale green when dry, 1.5–2 cm long;
stigma branches green. Capsules unknown.
FIGURE 3. Comparison of rosettes, spikes and flowers with floral bract of A, A1. Viridantha lepidosepala (L.B. Sm.) Espejo, B, B1.
V. minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., and C, C1. V. tortilis (Klotzsch ex Baker) Espejo (Photographs by R. Hernández-
Cárdenas).
Distribution and habitat:—Viridantha minuscula is known so far from the municipality of San Miguel de
Allende in Central Guanajuato (Fig. 1), in the biogeographic province of Chihuahuan Desert, were it grows on vertical
A NEW SPECIES OF VIRIDANTHA Phytotaxa 607 (1) © 2023 Magnolia Press • 5
rock walls predominated by xerophilous scrub vegetation with the presence of Tillandsia recurvata (Linnaeus 1753:
287) Linnaeus (1762: 410) and species of Bursera, Cactaceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae. There is a ravine that crosses
the zone of the Botanic Garden El Charco del Ingenio and on the side walls of this ravine V. minuscula plants grow at
elevations between 1,990 and 2,020 m a.s.l. The new species blooms from January to February.
Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the small size of the plants of the new species.
Paratypes:—MÉXICO. Guanajuato: municipio de San Miguel de Allende, El Charco del Ingenio, December,
2004, F. Rodríguez s.n. (IEB!, WLM!); El Charco del Ingenio, September 2005, M. Mendoza s.n. (IEB!).
Observations:—The new species is characterized by the small size of the plants (6–8 × 7–8 cm), the clumps
of many rosettes, the size of the leaf sheath (8–10 × 8–10 mm) and the leaf blade (40–50 × 3–4 mm), the size of the
peduncle (10–20 × 1–1.5 mm), the size of the spike (25–30 × 8–10 mm), the length of the floral bract (1.5–2 cm),
and the length of the petals (2.5–2.8 cm). Viridantha minuscula shares some similarities with V. tortilis including the
shortly caulescent and irregular rosettes and the leaf blade orientation (divaricate to ascending). However, V. minuscula
differs from V. tortilis in the size of the rosettes (6–8 ×7–8 vs. 15–23 ×15–20 cm), in the size of the leaf sheaths (0.8–1
× 0.8–1 vs. 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm), in the length of the leaf blades (4–5 vs. 10–18 cm), in the length of the peduncle (1–2
vs. 6–17 cm), and in the size of the spikes (2.5–3 × 0.8–1 vs. 3–4 × 1–1.5 cm), see also Table 1 and Figure 3.
TABLE 1. Morphological differences between Viridantha minuscula Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., V. lepidosepala
(L.B. Sm.) Espejo, and V. tortilis (Klotzsch ex Baker) Espejo.
Characters V. minuscula V. lepidosepala V. tortilis
Habit saxicolous epiphyte to saxicolous epiphyte to saxicolous
Flowering plant size 6–8 × 7–8 cm 9–12 × 9–15 cm 15–23 × 15–20 cm
Leaf sheath size 0.8–10 × 0.8–1 cm 1–1.5 × 1–1.5 cm 1.5–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm
Leaf sheath shape widely ovate widely oblong to square widely ovate to oblong
Leaf blade size 4–5 × 0.3–0.4 cm 7–12 × 0.5–0.8 cm 10–18 × 0.5–0.7 cm
Peduncle size 1–2 × 0.1–0.15 cm 0–3 × 0.3–0.4 cm 6–17 × 0.1–0.15 cm
Spike size 2.5–3 × 0.8–1 cm 2.5–4.5 × 1–1.5 cm 3–4 × 1–1.5 cm
Petals length 2.5–2.8 cm 1.5–2.5 cm 2.5–3.5 cm
Acknowledgments
To Sofía Lara for her invaluable help during fieldwork. To the curators of ENCB, FCME, IBUG, IEB, MEXU, QMEX,
UAMIZ, WLM, and XAL for allowing us access to their collections. To Eric Gouda for the editorial comments and to
the anonymous reviewers for their observations and suggestions that greatly improved the manuscript.
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APPENDIX 1. Specimen examined
Viridantha lepidosepala (L.B. Sm.) Espejo. AGUASCALIENTES: G. García 4922 (MEXU); R. Hernández et al.
2079 (UAMIZ). ESTADO DE MÉXICO: M. Flores 988 (UAMIZ); F. Gómez a (ENCB); L. Guzmán 1084 (ENCB,
IEB); M. Huidobro s.n. (IEB); E. Matuda 38433 (MEXU, XAL); R. Noriega 1010 (UAMIZ); S. Koch 852 (XAL),
8411 (IEB, UAMIZ, XAL); M. Mitastein 174 (ENCB); M. Pulido 218 (FCME); 429 (ENCB, FCME); Romero 1304
(ENCB); J. Rzedowski 36555 (ENCB, IEB); A. Victoria s.n. (IEB). GUANAJUATO: A. Cabrera et al. 1006 (MEXU,
QMEX); A. Espejo et al. 5233 (IEB, UAMIZ), 6917 (IEB, UAMIZ, XAL); R. Hernández et al. 2651 (UAMIZ), 2654
(UAMIZ); A. López et al. 2488 (IEB, MEXU, UAMIZ), 2946bis (IBUG, IEB, UAMIZ); M. Martínez 8358 (QMEX);
J. Rzedowski 37479 (IEB, ENCB), 39673 (ENCB, IEB), 50770 (IEB, UAMIZ), 52191 (IEB, UAMIZ), 53221 (IEB).
HIDALGO: J. Ceja et al. 1556 (UAMIZ); I. Díaz 687 (MEXU), 1209 (MEXU), 1213 (MEXU); M. Equihua 565
(ENCB); A. Espejo et al. 7507 (UAMIZ); F. Jiménez 185a (ENCB, IEB); A. López et al. 2131 (UAMIZ); J. Rzedowski
16952 (ENCB). JALISCO: H. Arreola & L. Guzmán 611 (IBUG); A. García 862 (IEB); F. Santana 2506 (IBUG,
MEXU). MICHOACÁN: G. Contreras 186 (MEXU); G. Cornejo & G. Ibarra 3081 (IEB, MEXU); H. Díaz 3578
(IEB); M. Flores et al. 582 (UAMIZ); G. Galván & R. Cerros 596 (UAMIZ); R. Hernández et al. 2076 (UAMIZ); G.
Ibarra 4573 (IEB). A. López et al. 2317 (IEB, UAMIZ); C. Medina 1081 (IEB, MEXU); E. Molina & S. Zamudio 145a
(IEB); J. Rzedowski 43226 (IEB), 45713 (IEB, UAMIZ), 45410 (IEB), 48909A (IEB, MEXU, XAL), 50201 (IEB,
UAMIZ), 51618 (IEB, UAMIZ). PUEBLA: G. Arséne s.n. (MEXU); G. Nicolás s.n. (MEXU). QUERÉTARO: A.
Cabrera 458 (IEB, QMEX); J. Ceja et al. 641 (UAMIZ); L. Hernández 5841 (IEB, QMEX). ZACATECAS: A. Espejo
et al. 7066 (IEB, UAMIZ); E. Rodríguez 1326 (UAMIZ).
Viridantha tortilis (Klotzsch ex Baker) Espejo. DURANGO: O. Ontiveros 8 (MEXU, UAMIZ). GUANAJUATO: J.
Ceja et al. 477 (UAMIZ); C. Granados et al. 358 (MEXU); R. Hernández et al. 2081 (UAMIZ), 2652 (UAMIZ); M.
Martínez 7742 (QMEX), 8866 (QMEX); R. McVaugh 14810 (MEXU); J. Rzedowski 49880 (IEB), 9063 (ENCB); E.
Ventura & E. López 9079A (IBUG, IEB, MEXU, XAL). HIDALGO: M. Carlson 2828 (MEXU); M. Cházaro et al.
6880 (IEB, XAL); A. Espejo et al. 5342 (IEB, UAMIZ), 5343 (UAMIZ), 6366 (UAMIZ), 7081 (IEB, UAMIZ); 7082
(IBUG, UAMIZ); L. González 2041 (ENCB); A. Mendoza et al. 832 (IEB, UAMIZ); R. Osorio 352 (ENCB, IEB); F.
Zavala 903 (MEXU). JALISCO: P. Carrillo & M. Harker 673 (IBUG, IEB); A. García 862 (IBUG, IEB, MEXU), 998
(IBUG); J. Machuca 8822 (IBUG); R. McVaugh 12308 (MEXU); J. Pérez 649 (IBUG); QUERÉTARO: S. Zamudio
2110 (IEB, MEXU). SAN LUIS POTOSÍ: F. García 2988 (UAMIZ), 4061 (UAMIZ); J. Rzedowski 11329 (ENCB).
