flowers: sepals symmetric or if slightly asymmetric, then ovate or landeolate, free or connate; petal-blades usually distinct. stamens included, about equaling the petals or slightly shorter; filament straight. pistil: style slender, much longr than the ovary.Edited from : Smith & Downs 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). in Flora Neotropica.