Tillandsia violascens Mez

  • 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 violascens Mez

  • Type

    Type. Mandon 1174 in part (holotype P, isotype BM), Sorata, Larecaja, Bolivia, 1861.

  • Description

    Description - Plant caulescent, flowering 4-7 dm high; stem decumbent, stout, elongate, covered with the remains of old leaf-sheaths. Leaves rosulate at the end of the stem, 3-5 dm long; sheaths distinct, elliptic, to 18 cm long, dark violet especially above, nearly covered with fine appressed brown scales; blades ligulate, acuminate, recurved at the extreme apex, 4-6 cm wide, obscurely punctulate-lepidote, thin, green. Scape erect, to 14 mm in diameter, glabrous; scape-bracts densely imbricate, foliaceous with subinflated sheaths. Inflorescence densely bipinnate, thyrsoid, 15-25 cm long, 10 cm in diameter, red or green; primary bracts suberect, the middle and lower subfoliaceous and exceeding the spikes, the upper suborbicular, apiculate, about equaling the spikes; spikes sessile or with a short naked stipe, elliptic, subdensely 4-flowered, 4 cm long. Floral bracts very broadly ovate, rounded, about equaling the sepals, carinate, even, glabrous. Sepals free, elliptic, broadly rounded, 8-15 mm long, chartaceous, even, glabrous, the posterior carinate; petals violet, blades 7 mm long; stamens included. Capsule cylindric, stout, 24-35 mm long.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic in cloud forest, 2700-3500 m alt, Peru, Bolivia.

    Peru South America| Huancavelica Peru South America| Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Ayopaya Bolivia South America| Carrasco Bolivia South America| Santa Cruz Bolivia South America|