Tillandsia atrococcinea Matuda[as Tillandsia atrococcinea Matuda]

Diagnose: —A Tillandsia stricta Sol. cui affinis, sed foliis ligularis, inflorescentia densi-compacta atrococcinea petalo atro-violacea differt. Epiphyta parva, acaulis ad 20 cm alta. Folia egregie semibulbosa, numerose rosulata, usque 18 cm longa; vaginis magna, late ovalis 4.5 cm longis 4 cm latis, obscure, bruneo-violaceo vel purpureo suffusam; lamina ligulata longe triangularia, canaliculade, 1.5 cm lata in basi, sursum acuminato-subulatis, supra parcus subtus densius lepidibus, viridescentia vel glaucantia, Scapus recurvatus, non pendulus, 12 cm longus; bracteis longe triangulari-caudato-subulate, 10 cm longis, tota lingularis, coccineis; inflorescentia simplissima quaquaverse florigera foliis superanta, densa, laxiuve breviter cylindrica, usque ad 11 cm longa, 4 cm diametro; bracteis florigeris ovatis 4.5 cm longis, 2.5 latis, apice longe mucronatis; sepala permulto superantibus; sepalis 22 mm longis 11 mm latis in basi, lanceo-triangularis, roseo-pruinosis; petala atroviolacea, 4 cm longa, stamina petalis multo breviora, quam stylus breviora.

Observations: —This Tillandsia, so attractive in its crimson coloured inflorescence, is closely related to Tillandsia macdougallii from Mexico and Tillandsia stricta Sol. of Brazil, but the scape is a little recurved and never hanging; by its coloring it is very different from the similar Mexican species, and by its leaves and corolla is very distant from the Brazilian.

Edited from : Cact. Suc. Mex.. (protologue) .