Tillandsia clavigera Mez

Literature references:

Betancur 2001b: 100* Betancur 2007: 69 BSA (Web) Dunstan 2014c: 108 cover FCBS (Web) Holst 1994: 15(1):146 J. Bromeliad Soc.: 39:12b 53:193,197ch Manzanares 2018: 30 Rauh 1985a: 52:62h Roguenant 2001: 283d Smith & Downs 1977: 711,713: 711*: 711*

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Comments:

• Tillandsia francisci W Till & J.R. Grant has previously been identified as Tillandsia clavigera Mez by Hornung & Gaviria (1999) and Oliva-Esteve (2000) page 211, or T. fendleri Griseb. by Oliva-Esteve & Steyermark (1987) page 234, and Oliva-Esteve (2003) page 245. It differs, however, by its much larger habit, longer and strongly compressed spikes, larger flowers and coloration.
  
  Using the keys of Smith & Downs (1977; especially subkey IX) Tillandsia francisci (greenish-yellow flower-bracts with violet-brown tips and margins, 38-42 mm long) belongs to a group of closely related species comprising T. denudata Andre (dark castaneous flower-bracts 15-22 mm long), T. clavigera, T. brevicapsula Gilmartin, and T. nervisepala (Gilmartin) L.B. Sm. (flower-bracts pale and concolorous in all species, 24-30 mm long). The measurements of flower-bracts and sepals of T. clavigera are incorrect (i.e., too large, likely due to inclusion of discordant elements) in the key of Smith & Downs (1977) and T. clavigera is probably nothing more than a somewhat depauperate form of T. nervisepala, however, the former name having priority over the latter. T. clavigera var. pendula Rauh (1985) does not belong to the above mentioned group but is much closer related to T. francisci differing immediately in its much shorter scape and pendulous inflorescence with more densely and polystichously arranged spikes. —See Till & Grant 2003 p. 53:195