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602 - Bromeliads (Garden) - 2007-09-08 (Dimension: 2622 x 3938 pixels - Counter: 14238) Neoregelia sp. Photographer: Uwe Scharf Note: I was watching this plant already for some years in the Bot Garden in Utrecht and it was extremely interesting to me because such a huge plant should be known to Ecuador. Finally I got a “cutting” of about 80 cm high in May 2007, put it in a 12 cm pot (looks funny) and hung it up in my garden in half shade, at least protected from direct sunlight during noon. During the last 3 months it showed some new growth at the inner leaves and, what a surprise, it developed a pattern on the leaves that was already faintly visible at some exposed parts of the plant in the Bot Garden in Utrecht (see photo) and what is similar to the pattern of N. marmorata. In my mind I made a guess how the plant could look like when it was grown in full sun for some years and it kicked me out of my socks (sorry for that 1:1 German-English translation) when this virtual picture in my brain was matched 100% by a picture from a saleswoman on the internet (see attached picture) who is selling their plants in Ceasa Campinas in the Market of Flowers. I got in contact with the saleswoman and she told me that the plant is frequently found in the Serra da Bocaina, Eastern Brazil. They sell it under the name Neoregelia johannis. Would this be the right name for that plant in Utrecht? If yes, then the collection site in Ecuador, W of Loja, Catamayo should be revised. (Click on the picture to enlarge) |