Pitcairnia arcuata (André) André

Pitcairnia oblanceolata l^. B. Smith, Contr Gray Herb. 117: 26. 1937.
Undoubtedly caulescent; leaves few, erect; sheaths broadly ovate, 3-4 cm. long, darkcastaneous, covered with a thick membrane of brown scales; petioles distinct, stout, channeled. densely armed with dark spines up to 3 mm. long; blades oblanceolate, acute, 85 cm. long, 125 mm. wide, flat with a narrow channel down the middle, glabrous; scape stout, 3 dm. long; scapebracts erect, very densely imbricate, some subfoliaceous, others vaginiform, large, elliptic, caudate, covered with a brown membrane; inflorescence simple, densely spicate, cylindric, 3 dm. long, 3 cm. in diameter; floral bracts strict, very broadly elliptic, acute, 8 cm. long, much exceeding the sepals, castaneous when dry, chartaceous; flowers short-pedicellate; sepals oblanceolate, broadly acute and apiculate, 45 mm. long, 10 mm. wide, membranaceous; petals and stamens not known.
Type locality: Cataracts of San Ram6n, Costa Rica. Distribution: Known only from the type collection.

Pitcairnia arcuata is a flowering plant in the Bromeliaceae family. It is native to Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.