TABLE 1. — Comparative characteristics of Hechtia atlantica Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., sp. nov., H. myriantha Mez and H. schottii Baker.
Characters H. atlantica Hern.-Cárdenas, Espejo & López-Ferr., sp. nov. H. myriantha Mez H. schottii Baker
Rosettes Acaulescent; 50-60 ×40-70 cm; cespitose Caulescent; 100-150× c. 100 cm; solitary Acaulescent; 100-150 × c. 100 cm; cespitose
Flowering plant height (cm) 150-250 350 or more 200-250
Leaf sheath size (cm) 10-13× 12-16 5.5-6 ×9.5-11.5 4-5 × 4-5
Leaf blade size (cm) 50-60× 8.5-10 100-170 ×2.5-6.5 50-100×3.4-4.5
Staminate plants (J)
Inflorescences twice branched twice to thrice branched twice to thrice branched
Inflorescences length (cm) 170-190 150-350 100-180
Primary branches number 25-30 25-40 35-45
Primary branches length (cm) 15-25 8-40 9-45
Primary bracts (cm) 1-3.2 3.5-9.3 1.2-3.5
Floral bracts widely ovate, acuminate; 6-6.5× 4.5-5 mm widely ovate to acuminate; 3-3.7 × c. 2.5 mm widely ovate to widely oblong; 4-5 ×3.7-4.6 mm
Sepals widely ovate, acuninate; 4.5-5× 3.5-4 mm oblong to ovate, acute; c.c. 2 mm obovate to oblong to elliptic-ovate; 3.6-4.5 ×2.6-3.1 mm
Petals widely ovate; 5-5.5×4-4.5 mm; lepidote triangular; 3.5-4 ×2.5-3 mm; lepidote obovate; 5.1–5.8×3-3.7 mm; glabrous
Pistillate plants ()
Inflorescences twice branched twice to thrice branched twice branched
Inflorescences length (cm) 100-190 100-350 100-150
Primary branches number 12-18 25-40 20-25
Primary branches length (cm) 8-25 10-36 7.5-23
Floral bracts 5.5-6 ×4.5-5 mm 3.5-5× c. 2.5 mm 3-5× 3.5-5 mm
Sepals widely ovate to elliptic; 5.5-6 × 3-3.5 mm elliptic; c.c. 2 mm ovate; 4.7-5×3-3.3 mm
Petals widely ovate; 5-5.5 × 3.8-4.2 mm; lepidote narrowly ovate to triangular; 3.6-4.3 × 2-2.5 mm; lepidote widely ovate; 5.4–5.8 ×3.3-3.8 mm; glabrous
Ovary 3.5-4 ×2.5-3 mm 4-5 × c. 2 mm c. 5 × c. 2 mm
Capsules ovoid; 7-7.5 mm × 4-5 mm ovoid to ellipsoid, 10-12 mm×6-7 mm ovoid to ellipsoid; 7-8 mm ×5-6 mm
Flowering season July to August January to June April to May
Geographical distribution Endemic to Veracruz Endemic to Veracruz Endemic to Campeche and Yucatán