Tillandsia pugiformis L.B.Sm.[as Tillandsia pugiformis (L.B.Smith) M.A.Spencer & L.B.Smith]

Diagnose: —epiphyta (ex Hitchcock). breviter caulescens. 10-12 dm. alta: foliis ad 20, rosulatis, 4 dm. longis, utrinque lepidibus minutis peradpressisque dense praeditis, paulo purpureo-maculatis. basi in vaginam niagnam ferrugineam dilatatis; lamina (super vaginam) pugiformi, ad 25 mm. lata inde in apicem peracutum sensim angustata, cinereo-viridi: Scapo erecto, gracili, glabro, foliis duplo longiore; nodis violascentibus: scapi bracteis anguste ellipticis dense lepidotis, supremis acutis vel apieulatis, internodiis brevioribus intimis longe caudatis, quam internodia longioribus: inflorescentia laxissima, tripinnatim paniculata, disticha, 4 dm. longa; axibus pallide parceque lepidotis; bracteis primariis anguste lanceolatis. vix ultra 2 cm. longis. dense pallideque lepidotis: spicis gracillimis, ad 14 cm. longis, laxissime ad 23-floris, distichis, saepe longe stipitatis, basi bracteis sterilibus uno vel pluribus auctis: bracteis florigeris distincte nervatis, ovato-acutis, navicularibus, hand vel vix carinatis, lepidotis, 4-5 mm. longis, sepalis aequantibus: floribus erectis, rhachi adpressis, 6 mm. longis, internodiis plerumque aequantibus vel brevioribus; sepalis liberis. asymmetrico-obovatis, lepidotis, rotundatis apiculatisque; petalis aureis (siccatis), sepalis minute superioribus; staminibus styloque inclusis: capsulis ignotis.

Observations: —This specis is more closely allied to T. tenuispica André than to any other known species, but is readily distinguishable by its narrowly triangular leaf-blade and somewhat cualescent habit.

Edited from : Smith & Downs 1977. (protologue) Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). in Flora Neotropica.