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

Diagnose: —acaulis semimetralis: foliis rosulatis, 25 cm. longis, pertenuibus, fere raembranaceis; vaginis late cllipticis, dense lepidibns minutissimis brunneis obtectis: laminis loratis, 45 mm. latis, apice rotundatis apiculatisipie. lepidibus incanis obtectis, sed ut videtur glabris: scapo erecto, glabro, delist vaginis cllipticis apiculatis pallide adpresseque lepidotis, internodia superantibus obtecto, foliis breviori: inflorescentia laxe distieha, bipinnarim paniculata, ovata, 30 cm. longa, 12 cm. lata; axi recto, complanato. incanaliculato, fere glabro; bracteis primariis parvis. vix ultra 15 mm. longis, ovato-acutis, patulis vel reflexis: spicis subdenx 23-fluris, patulis. paulo arctiatis, ad 70 mm. longis, 0-10 mm. latis (sine capsulis), inferioribus longe stipitatis, basi bracteis sterilibus auctis; rhachi undulata, valde complanata, angulata, floribus recipiendis excavata, pallide parceque lepidota; ovutis, navicularibus, sepalis paulo sed constanter brevioribus, ecarinatis, medium usque irnpressis, laevibus, parce lepidotis: sepalis liberis, asymmetrico-obovatis, haud ultra 5 mm. longis, retusis, basin versus carinatus, laevibus; petallis et partibus genitalibus ignotis: capsulis anguste cylindricis. apieulatis, ad 18 mm. longis.

Observations: —This species is most nearly related to T. michelii Mez, but is distinguished from it by its spreading or reflexed primary bracts, its imbricated scape-bracts and the extremely thin texture of its leaves. Its general habit is also very suggestive of relationship with T. .spiculosa but there the floral bracts are always at least equal in length to the sepals.

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