Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Monocots
- Order: Poales
- Family: Bromeliaceae
- Genus: Guzmania
- Species: Guzmania asplundii L.B.Sm.
The species was first described by Lyman B. Smith in 1974. The specific epithet asplundii honors Swedish botanist Erik Asplund, who collected plant material in South America.
Description
Guzmania asplundii is an epiphytic bromeliad forming a rosette of stiff, thick‑leaved foliage. Leaves are typically lanceolate to elliptic, with pronounced marginal spines. The inflorescence emerges from the central tank, bearing brightly colored bracts—often shades of red, orange or pink—surrounding small, usually white to yellowish flowers. Detailed morphological measurements (e.g., leaf length, flower dimensions) are recorded in taxonomic monographs but vary among individual plants depending on local conditions.
Distribution and Habitat
The species is endemic to Ecuador, occurring primarily in the Andean slopes and low‑land tropical forests. Reported elevational range is approximately 500–1,500 m above sea level. It grows as an epiphyte on trees in humid forest habitats, favoring well‑drained canopy positions where it can access filtered light and collect water in its leaf rosette.
Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List assessment (as of the latest available version), Guzmania asplundii is classified as Vulnerable. The primary threat is habitat loss caused by deforestation for agriculture, logging, and human settlement expansion within its limited range. Conservation actions recommended include protecting remaining forest fragments, establishing ex‑situ collections in botanical gardens, and monitoring known populations.
Ecology
The tank formed by the leaf rosette holds water and organic debris, providing microhabitats for a range of invertebrates (e.g., mosquito larvae, beetles) and contributing to nutrient cycling within the forest canopy. The flowers are visited by hummingbirds and other nectar‑feeding birds, facilitating cross‑pollination.
References
- Smith, L.B. (1974). Bromeliaceae (Guzmania). Flora Neotropica Monograph No. 14.
- Jørgensen, P.M.; León-Yánez, S. (eds.) (1999). Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador. Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Guzmania asplundii. Accessed 2023.
- Luther, H.E. (1999). An Annotated Checklist of the Bromeliaceae of Ecuador. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 75: 1–215.
Note: Information reflects the current scientific literature and conservation assessments available up to 2023.
