Ehlers 1992d (Article) Tillandsia

Tillandsia palmasolana, a synonym for T. concolor

Author(s):—R. Ehlers

Publication:—Journal of the Bromeliad Society 42(6): 271-272. (1992)

Abstract:—For many years we intended to collect Tillandsia palmasolana but time was always short. We decided in 1989 to go to the type locality at Palma Sola, Veracruz, on the first day of our visit to Mexico. The next morning we went to the type locality, Punta Limon, Cerro de Oro. We found T. schiedeana, T. ionantha, and a small, very hard-leafed tillandsia resembling T. concolor.

Since Matuda has compared T. palmasolana with T. tricolor Schlechtendal & Chamisso, we looked for a plant resembling that description. Although we spent many hours in the area, we found no plants other than the three already mentioned. When we compared the small T. concolor with Matuda's photo, we found it to be very similar.

Some of the plants had a simple spike like the type but other plants had two or three spikes. The plants were in very poor condition because the area was very dry. Our collected plants did not develop flowers because they had to stay four weeks in our suitcase.

In July 1991, the first plant flowered in our collection. It is evidently. T. concolor because all the details fit the description: spike is linear-lanceolate, acute, 7-9 cm long and 2 cm wide; floral bracts are 3.6 cm long, carinate and 1 cm connate; petals are 6 cm long, purple.
Conclusion. Tillandsia palmasolana Matuda must be treated as a synonym of T. concolor L.B. Smith.

Taxonomy:—Tillandsia palmasolana Considered a synonym of Tillandsia concolor L.B. Sm. (p.271-272).