Tillandsia ionantha Planch.
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Authority
Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (2): 663-1492. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Bromeliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Plant stemless or rarely caulescent, usually in dense masses. Leaves rarely over 6 cm long, covered with coarse cinereous spreading scales; sheaths elliptic, about half as long as the blade; blades narrowly triangular, subulate-attenuate, stout, 5 mm wide, the outer ones green, the inner deep red in life. Scape short or none. Inflorescence appearing to be a simple abbreviated spike with polystichous flowers but actually a reduced panicle with the axes aborted and the spikes reduced to a single flower each; primary bracts lance-ovate, acute, equaling or exceeding the sepals, membranaceous, lepidote toward apex. Floral bracts like the primary bracts but shorter than the sepals; flowers sessile, erect. Sepals lanceolate, acute, 16 mm long, membranaceous, free, the posterior carinate, short-connate; petals erect, over 4 cm long, violet, the claw linear, the blade broadly elliptic, subacute; stamens and pistil long-exserted. Capsule subcylindric, acute, 3 cm long.