Tillandsia barborkae J.J.Halda & P.Hertus[as Tillandsia barborkae J. J. Halda & P. Hertus]

Diagnose: —A simili T. edithae floribus parvis brevitubulosis coccineis foliis crassi dense ferrugineo lepidotis distinguitur. Caulescens, usque at 200 mm longa, pendula. Folia multa planiuscule rosulata, ad 100 mm longa, rigidula, e vagina vix ultra 25 mm lata in apicem subfiliformi-acutissimum persensim angustata, utrinque densissime lepidotibus maximis obtecta ferruginosaque. Scapis brevis, foliis brevior, dense lepidotus, vaginis erectis ovato-lanceolatis, omnibus in laminas longas subfiliformes productis, densissime lepidotis indutus. Inflorescentia multiflora, densissime paniculata, folia aequans vel paullo superans, e spicis usque ad 30, flores vix ultra 3 laxe dispositis gerentibus, laxe pinnatis, geniculatis, bracteas primarias superantibus, suberectis, usque ad 30 mm longis composita, usque ad 40 mm longa et 30 mm diametiens; axibus densissime lepidoto-ferrugineis; bracteis primariis conspicuis, ellipticis, acutis, dorso dense lepidotis; bracteis florigeris ad 5 mm distantibus, dorso coccineis, quam sepala manifeste longioribus, cum floribus suberectis, ellipticis, acutis, ad 25 mm longis, haud carinatis, sepala involventibus. Flores ad 25 mm longi; subaliquater liberis, dorso glaberrimis, subellipticis, late acutis, ad 15 mm longis. Petala coccinea, laminis subtrapeziformibus, obtusis, per anthesin optime campanulatis. Stamina petalis subduplo breviora, stylum superantia. Capsula brunnea, ca 15 mm longa. Semina brunnea, oblonga, minuta.

Observations: —Differs from similar T. edithae Rauh in having tiny bright red flowers with very short tube and succulent leaves, densely covered with rusty scales.

Edited from : Acta Mus. Richn.. (protologue) .