Encyclopedia of Bromeliads

Renate Ehlers - Picture Donor

Born: 1929 - 2019

Address: Stuttgard, Germany

Photo: Renate signing her new booklet "The Red-Flowered Tillandsias From Brazil (photo Peter Tristram, Aug. 2009)

Brom.Career: Renate and Klaus Ehlers used their travel agency in Stuttgart, Germany, to organize their first trip to Mexico in 1972, along with a group of fellow cactus enthusiasts. This changed their lives forever. The bromeliads they encountered became their new passion, especially tillandsias. This signaled the start of almost annual return visits to Mexico, interspersed with other expeditions in Central and South America. Because Klaus and Renate were willing to venture into the most remote locations in Mexico, often enduring shabby or even no accommodation, and having to combat both human and natural impediments, they were able to find many new tillandsia species previously unnamed and undescribed. This inspired Renate to study the botany of tillandsias, and she soon learnt about taxonomy from the world’s foremost bromeliad authorities living in Germany. She and Klaus created their own tillandsia herbarium in their home, and assembled most available information on this genus. With Klaus always by Renate’s side, having the responsibility of taking photographs, they amassed a mind-boggling array of tillandsia images, ranging from whole plants in habitat down to tiny taxonomic details taken from their own impressive collection.

The first public recognition of Renate outside of Germany occurred in an article by the legendary Wilhelm Weber in the Journal of the BSI in 1982. He reported the re-discovery of Tillandsia diguetii “by the enthusiastic German plant collector Renate Ehlers” during the previous year. Wilhelm continued with: “Such a re-discovery has the same scientific value as a new discovery provided, of course, that it is published and a prepared specimen of it is placed in a herbarium”. It is unlikely that Wilhelm could ever have imagined the enormity of future achievements by such a dedicated and addicted tillandsia devotee as Renate.

The next hint of what might come was in another BSI Journal article by Wilhelm Weber in 1983. Following an extensive trip by Renate and Klaus to Mexico in 1981, four new tillandsia descriptions were published, each attributed jointly to Weber & Ehlers. Then, a year later, Professor Werner Rauh contributed a four page article to the journal in which he introduced “Tillandsia ehlersiana: A Remarkable New Species from Chiapas, Mexico”, named in honour of Renate and Klaus.

Since then, Renate has named and described more than one hundred new species. The majority of these appeared in Die Bromelie, although quite a few were published in the BSI Journal. Many of these were discovered during her own expeditions. However, her status grew so considerably in Germany that many other adventurers brought unknown collected species to Stuttgart for Renate to investigate.

Sentimentally, her favourite species is Tillandsia klausii, which was published in 1988 and dedicated to Klaus. Renate’s account of the cuts, scratches and physical demands endured by Klaus in order to reach the plants at their Chiapas habitat is quite moving. Aesthetically, Tillandsia salmonea is another favourite.

A testimony to her spirit is when she accepted an invitation to give four presentations at the 1995 Australian Bromeliad Conference in Adelaide. Renate has given many talks in Germany, but this was an experience outside of her comfort zone, having to narrate in English. However, her warmth, humour and unquestionable knowledge won over the audience.

Tragically, Klaus passed away in 1998. Nevertheless, Renate’s passion to delve into tillandsia territory, especially southern Mexico, has continued. She has traveled together with fellow tillandsia enthusiasts on a regular basis, still discovering and describing new species to keep the fires burning.

Renate has written two definitive monographs, published as special editions of Die Bromelie by the German Bromeliad Society. They are “The Red-Flowered Tillandsias From Brazil”, published in 1996, and “The green-blooming, small, grey Tillandsias from Mexico” in 2009. Each book surveys existing species while introducing several new species into the relevant complexes. The inclusion of so many coloured images makes both publications essential additions to tillandsia collectors’ bookcases.

A recent initiative of Renate involves concern for the future of plants and records held in private collections, especially those belonging to older people. With natural habitats in the Americas continually being destroyed, there are rare and valuable specimens around Europe, for example, whose maintenance is crucial for species preservation. Perhaps there should be designated botanical gardens entrusted to receive plant donations, with staff having appropriate knowledge of the bromeliad family. Additionally, collectors should be encouraged to distribute spare plants, even overseas, to enhance the prospects of species survival. It is crucial that accurate records are kept of each plant’s history, especially the original habitat.

The one missing jewel in Renate’s bromeliad experiences is the absence of a species named after her personally. Perhaps a very special new tillandsia plant might be discovered in the near future and named by another taxonomist in honour of this exceptional lady [Add. Tillandsia renate-ehlersiae was published in 2015]. (text by Len Colgan)

Click here for a full literatrure list sorted by year.

Born:	1929 - 2019
Address:	Stuttgard, Germany
Photo:	Renate signing her new booklet "The Red-Flowered Tillandsias From Brazil (photo Peter Tristram, Aug. 2009)
Brom.Career:	Renate and Klaus Ehlers used their travel agency in Stuttgart, Germany, to organize their first trip to Mexico in 1972, along with a group of fellow cactus enthusiasts. This changed their lives forever. The bromeliads they encountered became their new passion, especially tillandsias. This signaled the start of almost annual return visits to Mexico, interspersed with other expeditions in Central and South America. Because Klaus and Renate were willing to venture into the most remote locations in Mexico, often enduring shabby or even no accommodation, and having to combat both human and natural impediments, they were able to find many new tillandsia species previously unnamed and undescribed. This inspired Renate to study the botany of tillandsias, and she soon learnt about taxonomy from the world’s foremost bromeliad authorities living in Germany. She and Klaus created their own tillandsia herbarium in their home, and assembled most available information on this genus. With Klaus always by Renate’s side, having the responsibility of taking photographs, they amassed a mind-boggling array of tillandsia images, ranging from whole plants in habitat down to tiny taxonomic details taken from their own impressive collection. The first public recognition of Renate outside of Germany occurred in an article by the legendary Wilhelm Weber in the Journal of the BSI in 1982. He reported the re-discovery of Tillandsia diguetii “by the enthusiastic German plant collector Renate Ehlers” during the previous year. Wilhelm continued with: “Such a re-discovery has the same scientific value as a new discovery provided, of course, that it is published and a prepared specimen of it is placed in a herbarium”. It is unlikely that Wilhelm could ever have imagined the enormity of future achievements by such a dedicated and addicted tillandsia devotee as Renate. The next hint of what might come was in another BSI Journal article by Wilhelm Weber in 1983. Following an extensive trip by Renate and Klaus to Mexico in 1981, four new tillandsia descriptions were published, each attributed jointly to Weber & Ehlers. Then, a year later, Professor Werner Rauh contributed a four page article to the journal in which he introduced “Tillandsia ehlersiana: A Remarkable New Species from Chiapas, Mexico”, named in honour of Renate and Klaus. Since then, Renate has named and described more than one hundred new species. The majority of these appeared in Die Bromelie, although quite a few were published in the BSI Journal. Many of these were discovered during her own expeditions. However, her status grew so considerably in Germany that many other adventurers brought unknown collected species to Stuttgart for Renate to investigate. Sentimentally, her favourite species is Tillandsia klausii, which was published in 1988 and dedicated to Klaus. Renate’s account of the cuts, scratches and physical demands endured by Klaus in order to reach the plants at their Chiapas habitat is quite moving. Aesthetically, Tillandsia salmonea is another favourite. A testimony to her spirit is when she accepted an invitation to give four presentations at the 1995 Australian Bromeliad Conference in Adelaide. Renate has given many talks in Germany, but this was an experience outside of her comfort zone, having to narrate in English. However, her warmth, humour and unquestionable knowledge won over the audience. Tragically, Klaus passed away in 1998. Nevertheless, Renate’s passion to delve into tillandsia territory, especially southern Mexico, has continued. She has traveled together with fellow tillandsia enthusiasts on a regular basis, still discovering and describing new species to keep the fires burning. Renate has written two definitive monographs, published as special editions of Die Bromelie by the German Bromeliad Society. They are “The Red-Flowered Tillandsias From Brazil”, published in 1996, and “The green-blooming, small, grey Tillandsias from Mexico” in 2009. Each book surveys existing species while introducing several new species into the relevant complexes. The inclusion of so many coloured images makes both publications essential additions to tillandsia collectors’ bookcases. A recent initiative of Renate involves concern for the future of plants and records held in private collections, especially those belonging to older people. With natural habitats in the Americas continually being destroyed, there are rare and valuable specimens around Europe, for example, whose maintenance is crucial for species preservation. Perhaps there should be designated botanical gardens entrusted to receive plant donations, with staff having appropriate knowledge of the bromeliad family. Additionally, collectors should be encouraged to distribute spare plants, even overseas, to enhance the prospects of species survival. It is crucial that accurate records are kept of each plant’s history, especially the original habitat. The one missing jewel in Renate’s bromeliad experiences is the absence of a species named after her personally. Perhaps a very special new tillandsia plant might be discovered in the near future and named by another taxonomist in honour of this exceptional lady [Add. Tillandsia renate-ehlersiae was published in 2015]. (text by Len Colgan) Click here for a full literatrure list sorted by year.

Renate Ehlers - Picture Donor

Sorry, not found