Tillandsia lacera L.B.Sm.[as Tillandsia lacera ]

Diagnose: —Acaulis, florifera 27 cm. alta; foliis multis, dense rosulatis, erectis, 12-20 cm. longis, utrinque dense adpresseque lepidotis; vaglnis late ovatis vel suborbicularibus, atro-castaneis; laminis anguste triangularibus, long acuminatis, 2-3 cm. latis, cinereo-lepidotis; scapo erecto, gracili; scapi vaginis dense imbricatis, ellipticis, dense lepidotis, infimis foliaceo-laminatis, alteris late rotundatis dein abrupte lineari-caudatis vel apiculatis, ex sicco chartaceis; inflorescentia dense bipinnatira paniculata, breviter cylindrica, 7 cm. longa, 3.5 cm. diametro; bracteis primariis eis supremis scapi similibus, erectis, bases steriles spicarum sub-aequantibus, spicis e basi sterili nuda erecta divergentibus, dense 4-6-floris, oblongis, acutis, complanatis, 20 mm. longis, 8 mm. latis; bracteis florigeris dense imbricatis, lanceolatis, subcucullatis, 9 mm. longis, sepala paulo superantibus, obtuse carinatis, chartaceis, nervatis, dense adpresseque cinereo-lepidotis; floribus subsessili-bus; sepalis liberis, lanceolatis, late acutis, 8 mm. longis, carinatis, nervatis, glabris; petalis 13 mm. longis, auriculis binis praeditis, laminis oblongis, late rotundatis, valde laceratis, fulgide lilacinis, stamina styloque superantibus

Observations: —On account of its lacerate auricled petals, Tillandsia lacera is obviously related to T• heterandra, but it differs in its abruptly caudate upper scape-bracts, denser inflorescence, and short spikes with naked sterile bases.

Edited from : Smith 1951c. (protologue) Botanical Exploration In Venezuela - I, Bromeliaceae in Steyermark, J.A. et al. Contributions to the Flora of Venezuela.