So far, this new Tillandsia is only known from Oaxaca between Huajuapan de Leon and Copala growing epilithically. In the Canon Tonala which is an impressive tourist-attraction, we saw the plant on our trips to Mexico. It was growing in the steep rockwalls with Tillandsia fasciculata Swartz, and a nice small grey Tillandsia with secund leaves related to T. atroviridipetala Matuda. But to see the plants and to get it were two different matters! In March 1988 I was able to get a single plant, climbing in the rocks. It was so difficult, that I nearly could not get down again and my husband Klaus had to help me, I was just sitting on a rock and could not find a way to reach the path. I collected only a single plant that was allready postfloral. But as we saw the Tillandsia is very interesting we tried again on our next trip in April 1989. This time we spent more time and passing the small river we made it, to collect some plants.
In March 1993 we found similar plants between Juxtlahuaca and Tecomaxtlahuaca on rocks near the river, 1750 m s. m. On this location the plants look a little different, the rosette is wider and more open, the leaves are often black-spotted. —SeeJ. Bromeliad Soc.
