Accepted by M. Christenhusz: 1 Apr. 2010; published: 30 Apr. 2010 1 PHYTOTAXA ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) Copyright © 2010 • Magnolia Press Phytotaxa 3: 1–18 (2010) www.mapress.com/ phytotaxa/ Article Four new species of the genus Racinaea (Bromeliaceae) from Ecuador JOSÉ M. MANZANARES 1 & ERIC J. GOUDA 2 1 Herbario Nacional del Ecuador, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias (QCNE) Naturales, Casilla Postal 17-09-7518, Quito, Ecuador. E-mail: manzanar@interactive.net.ec 2 Botanic Garden, University of Utrecht (U), Utrecht, Netherlands. E-mail:E.J.Gouda@ uu.nl Abstract Four new species belonging to the genus Racinaea (formerly Tillandsia subgenus Pseudo-Catopsis, Bromeliaceae) from Ecuador are described and illustrated here. The new species R. condorensis from the province of Zamora-Chinchipe in the southern region of Ecuador is similar to R. contorta. Racinaea guacamayosensis from the Cordillera de los Guacamayos, an area close to Tena in the province of Napo, has close affinity with R. diffusa and R. penlandii. Racinaea terrestris from the province of Morona-Santiago, southern Ecuador, is also similar to R. diffusa. The new species R. tillii from the cloudy, cool mountain forest on the Amazonian side of the Andes in Napo province, is very alike R. penlandii . Distinguishing characters between these species are provided. Key words: Taxonomy, Flora of Ecuador, Pseudo-Catopsis, Tillandsia, Tillandsioideae Resumen Los autores, Manzanares y Gouda, describen e ilustran cuatro nuevas especies pertenecientes al género Racinaea (previo subgénero Pseudo-Catopsis en Tillandsia, Bromeliaceae) de Ecuador y proveen la información morfológica que las distinguen de las especies relacionadas. Racinaea condorensis de la provincia de Zamora-Chinchipe, región situada al sureste del Ecuador, y está relacionada con R. contorta. Racinaea guacamayosensis de la Cordillera de los Guacamayos, área cerca de Tena en la provincia de Napo, relacionada con R. diffusa y R. penlandii. Racinaea terrestris de la provincia de Morona-Santiago, al sureste del Ecuador, está relacionada con R. diffusa. Racinaea tillii del bosque nublado en la vertiente Amazónica de los Andes, en la provincia de Napo, esta relacionada con R. penlandii. Palabras clave: Taxonomía, Flora del Ecuador, Pseudo-Catopsis, Tillandsia, Tillandsioideae Introduction During several expeditions to different parts of Ecuador, species of the genus Racinaea (Tillandsioideae), former subgenus Pseudo-Catopsis of Tillandsia, were studied in preparation for the publication of volume three in the ‘Jewels of the Jungle, Bromeliaceae of Ecuador’ series (previous vols.: Manzanares 2002, Manzanares 2005). Ecuador appears to be the center of biodiversity for this enigmatic genus, which has been poorly studied in the past due to the indistinguishability of species based on herbarium vouchers alone. Most Racinaea species have tiny flowers that look alike when dried. Recent field and cultivation studies, where the flowers could be studied fresh, have led to the description of many new species (Gouda & Manzanares 2008, Höpfel & Scharf 2008, Luther 2007, Manzanares & Till 2007). Four new species of Racinaea were recently discovered and are presented below.