Tillandsia macvaughii is known up to now in the states of Jalisco and Michoacan (Fig. 2) where grows as an epiphyte on diverse species in vegetation of tropical caducifolia forest and secondary heath, between 700 and 800 m.s.n.m.
The new species presents some superficial similarities with other taxa that are also distributed in the same Pacific coast (Espejo et al., 2004), such as Tillandsia marabascoensis Ehlers et Lautner, T. maritima Matuda and T. rothii Rauh, however is possible to distinguish it clearly from them (Cuadro 1, Figs. 3 and 4). The following key shows the differences.
1.Scape much shorter than the leaves, 2-11 cm long; leaf blades lightly arched outwards in
the upper half to third.
2. Inflorescence compound; spikes narrowly elliptic, 1.7-3cm wide, green; scape 10-11cm
long; petals green-whitish; plant grows at 700-800 m s.n.m. T. macvaughii
2. Inflorescence generally simple; spike widely elliptic, 3-4cm wide, red at the base and
yellow-greenish toward the apex; Scape 2-4 (- 5.5) cm long; petals yellow-greenish; plant
grows at 0 - 100 m s.n.m T. marabascoensis
1. Scape much longer than the leaves, 20-30cm long; leaf blades strongly arched-recurved
outwards from the base.
3. Spike largely elliptic to lanceolate, compressed to lightly plump, 1-2cm wide; rosette
with the erect-extended leaves; plant well-known in Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca
T. maritima
3. Spike ovate, plump, 2.8-3.5cm wide; rosette with the leaves strongly curved down; plant
well-known in Colima and Jalisco T. rothii
The name of the species honors Dr. Rogers McVaugh, a botanical notable who dedicated many years of his life and work in the study of the Mexican plants, particularly in the region of the Nueva Galicia. —SeeActa Bot. Mex.
