A number of superficially similar species of Guzmania with long laminate primary bracts and congested fascicles of flowers have been lumped with Guzmania squarrosa (Mez & Sodiro) L.B. Smith & Pittendrigh. Features useful in separating some of the "satellite" taxa are often obscured or destroyed in dried, pressed specimens. The new species presented below differs from G. squarrosa s.s. by a combination of indumentum, pigmentation and flower morphology features.

Guzmania kareniae H. Luther & K. Norton, sp. nov.

TYPE: Ecuador. Imbabura: Cachacho road, 18 km E of Lita, 1100 m, cloud forest, 23 Feb. 1988, Luther, Kress & Roesel 1254 (Holoytpe: SEL; Isotype: QCNE).

A G. squarrosa (Mez & Sodiro) L.B. Smith & Pittendrigh, cui affinis, vaginis foliorum et vaginis bractearum primariarum percastaneis, sepals longioribus et petalis longioribus recurvatisque differt.

Plant an epiphyte, flowering .75-1 m tall. Leaves densely rosulate, spreading, coriaceous, 40-60 cm long; leaf sheaths elliptic, 8-12 x 6-10 cm, somewhat nerved, densely appressed brown-lepidote especially abaxially, dark castaneous at the base abaxially; leaf blades lingulate, broadly acute, apiculate, 3-4 cm wide, somewhat nerved, appressed pale punctate-lepidote,...