Bomg,

I have been told by a pitcairnia growere in my area that your plant could be either Pit. portmanii or Pit. paniculata, one has spines on the leaves the other doesn't, they flower at diff. times of the year, other than that they look very much alike.

All the best, Nev.

Thanks Nev, my leaves have spines near the base. The photos were taken just last week. So this is a P. portmanii?

Hi bomg,

I asked your question and this is the answer I got:

The short answer to your question is if your plant has those little nasty black spines/leaves at its base you have got Pitcairnia paniculata.

The full technical answer is:
Pitcairnia poortmanii is densely serrulate and narrower laxly above, glabrous.
Translated = finely serrate or saw edged with smooth glossy leaf.

Pitcairnia paniculata is densely fasciculate, dimorphic or trimorphic, the outer leaves reduced, scale-like or some with setiform spinose blades, the inner elongate, contracted above the sheath but not always petiolate, attenuate, remotely spinulose-serrate or entire to apex, glabrous above, sparsely furfuraceous beneath. Translated = compact cluster, 2 - 3 different types of leaves, bristle like, glossy above, scurfy under.

In other words if your plant has those little nasty black spines/leaves at its base you have got Pitcairnia paniculata. Dimorphic means two different types of leaves.

All the best, Nev.

Thank you so much, Nev. Sorry for the late reply but I was traveling in the interim.

I think what I have is P. paniculata because of the black spines and different types of leaves.