Tillandsia gilliesii Baker

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (2): 663-1492. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tillandsia gilliesii Baker

  • Type

    Type. Gillies s n (holotype K, isotypes CGE, GH), foot of the cordillera near Mendoza, Argentina, 1825.

  • Synonyms

    Tillandsia compressa Bertero ex Schult. & Schult.f., Tillandsia andicola Gillies ex Baker, Tillandsia myosura var. saxicola Hieron. & A.Cast.

  • Description

    Description - Flowering over 2 dm long; stems many from a single point, forming a dense subglobose mass, to 8 cm long, simple or few-branched; roots present. Leaves very densely distichous, 2-8 cm long, densely subappressed-lepidote with cinereous to ferruginous subsymmetrical scales; sheaths broadly oblong, many-nerved with no distinct margin, merging imperceptibly with the blades, lepidote except for the extreme base, densely imbricate making the stem appear 5-7 mm thick, not overlapping behind the stem except at the extreme base; blades arching-recurved, often somewhat contorted, narrowly triangular, much compressed laterally, acuminate, with a very narrow triangular channel above. Scape distinct or almost lacking, terminal or pseudoaxillary, to 13 cm long, appressed-lepidote, naked or bearing a single lanceolate involute bract. Inflorescence 1-3-flowered, to 38 mm long, densely cinereous-lepidote; rhachis flexuous. Floral bracts erect, lance-ovate, acute, to 20 mm long, equaling or exceeding the sepals or the uppermost sometimes slightly shorter, not more than twice as long as the internodes, ecarinate, many-nerved, thin; flowers subsessile. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, to 16 mm long, thin, many-nerved, lepidote, equally subfree; petals narrow; stamens deeply included, exceeding the pistil; ovary subglobose, slightly longer than the style. Capsule slenderly cylindric, abruptly short-beaked, 25 mm long.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic, 1800-2800 m alt, Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina.

    Peru South America| Arequipa Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Cochabamba Bolivia South America| Potosí Bolivia South America| Chuquisaca Bolivia South America| Argentina South America| Jujuy Argentina South America| Salta Argentina South America| Catamarca Argentina South America| Tucuman Argentina South America| La Rioja Argentina South America| San Juan Argentina South America| Mendoza Argentina South America| Buenos Aires Argentina South America| La Pampa Argentina South America|