Tillandsia kruseana Matuda[as Tillandsia kruseana Matuda]

Diagnose: —A Tillandsia mexicana L. B. Smith cui affinis, sed folia egregie lepidibus maximis pruinosa, multo latissima, coriaceis; petalae lilacinae differt. Epiphyta usque ad 85 cm alta, saepissime majoar. Folia egregie bulbosa, numerose rosulata, usqued 65-70 cm longa; vaginis late orbiculatis subcastanies, 8cm latis et longis; laminis longe triangularibus, planis vel late canaliculatis, 7cm latis en basi, sursum longe caudatis, 70 cm longis, extento-involutis, in apicem tortum, persensis angustata, utrinque densissime lepidobus prunosis; scapi erecti, robusti 45 cm longis; scapi bracteis imbricatis, basi amplexicaulis, lamina in basi 4 cm lata, 45-50 cm longa, apice lineari-acaudata, coriacea, crassa, ascendentis vel extensis, rubescentia utrinque albo-lepidotis; inflorescentia erecta, myriantha, dense pinnata, 40cm longa, 20-23 spicis; bracteis primariis ellipticis longe caudato apice longe subulatis, albo-lepidotis. 15-18 cm longa; spicis longe stipitatis, lanceolatis complanatis, 12 cm longis 1.5 cm latis in medium, glabris viridis, 4-5 floris; bracteis florigeris dense imbricatis, oblanceolatis, 4-5cm, longis 1,5 cm latis, coriaceis, carinatis, viridis, sepala multo superantibus, ad apicem versus lepidotis; sepalis subchartaceis, glabris, flavo-viridis, ecarinatis, 3 cm longis, 8mm latis, symmetris, libris; petala sepalis ad 3 cm superans, tubulose, erecta, lilacina; staminibus stylo longe exertis; capsulae non vidi.

Observations: —According to the author, Tillandsia kruseana is related to T. mexicana L. B. Smith but differs in its larger, laxer inflorescence, its brilliant red, imbricate scape-bracts, and its larger, densely pruinose-lepidote leaves. In its lax inflorescence and densely lepidote leaves, T. kruseana more closely resembles T. xerographica Rohweder but the latter species has posterior sepals that are carinate and highly connate.

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