Tillandsia candida Leme[as Tillandsia candida ]

Observations: —Tillandsia candida belongs to the subgenus Anoplophytum, which is characterized by including species commonly found in xeric environments, with spirally arranged leaves, compound inflorescences, symmetrical sepals, tubular corolla, odorless flowers, included filaments, and simpleerect stigmas (which contrasts with the spiral-conduplicate stigmas observed in T. candida). The species of the subgenus Anoplophytum are found from eastern and southern Brazil to Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay (Benzing 2000). Leme (1987) describes green floral bracts for T. candida, but here we highlight the reddish tone of floral bracts. Fiorato (2009) highlighted the similarities between Tillandsia recurvata (L). L and T. candida Rudder in relation to the size and shape of leaves. Leme (1987) and Fiorato (2009) commented on the morphological similarity between T. candida and T. tenuifolia Rudder. However, our results suggest differences in the vegetative and reproductive features among these species (Table 1). While Tillandsia tenuifolia has longer and wider leaf blades, T. candida leaves are shorter and narrower, besides presenting a difference in the reproductive portion, where the floral bracts are reddish in T. candida and pale pinkish in T. tenuifolia. Differences also can be seen in the reproductive portion, between T. candida and T. reccurvata where the floral bracts reddish and larger than the sepals with one apex acuminate in T. candida, while in T. recurvata the floral bracts are shorter and have a sharp apex. In addition, these two species are also different in relation to the color of the petals, lilac in T. recurvata and white in T. candida. The knowledge about the distribution and reproductive biology of Tillandsia candida is still incipient. The only records available for this species were those of the protologue and one additional record found on the Reflora - Herbário virtual (2019) website: “without locality, s.d., Blanchet 2982 (W)”. The last record was misidentified and later the current authors found it to be T. candida, Therefore, the available data regarding this taxon is insufficient, either in relation to its habitat or the size of its populations. According to Rabinowitz (1981), in order to consider a species rare, one has to take into account three aspects: (1) geographic range; (2) habitat specificity; (3) local population size. Tillandsia candida has a limited geographic range, based on the recorded populations. As with the other species of Anaplophytum, this plant is presumed to be found in a xeric domain. However, the habitat where we collected the specimens studied here was a moist gallery forest and an urban area. The populations observed comprised a few individuals and did not represent a dominant epiphyte on the trees, except in the urban area where a greater number of individuals were observed, however, only with a few plants. Thus, we conclude that this species is considered rare considering Rabinowitz’s criteria.

Edited from : Valentim & Louzada 2020. A new record of Tillandsia candida Leme (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae) and notes on its taxonomy .