Considered a synonym of Tillandsia tectorum E. Morren. Note by Rauh: "I enclose a black and white photograph of the type plant. I myself believe that T. rupicola is nothing else than T. tectorum. A notation on the picture indicates that the plant was collected in front of the village of Ona forming dense clumps of considerable extent. In times past I have searched for T. rupicola for days and days in the vicinity of Ona. Ecuador. I know very well every cliff and rock in the area and have found only T. tectorum in all varieties, but never T. rupicola. Nobody has it in cultivation. I would be very glad to have a plant."
—SeeRauh 1981dp. 178
Listed as synonym of Tillandsia tectorum E. Morren —SeeLuther & Sieff 1994p. 30
Considered a good species to its own right. Note: The photo of the type referred by Rauh 1981 shows clearly that it is, on no account, one of the forms of T. tectorum. In addition to the unicoloured, bright violet petals, the plant has a short and globular inflorescence that is not present in T. tectorum. For many years, the Brazilian T. sucrei was confused with T. rupicola. This shows the sort of problems that need to be addressed. The description (in Italics) in Smith and Downs (1977: 865) has been amended by adding characteristics (in Roman type) from plants found at the type locality.
The protologue for T. rupicola refers to a "simple,... very multifarious spike". Smith & Downs (1977: 865) shows 'depauperate compound'. We have found that at least the lowermost spikes consist of two fertile, i.e. well developed flowers, so the inflorescence is actually compound. —SeeHromadnik 2005ap. 81
