Previously in 2005 we discovered a new and spectacular species of Tillandsia in Oaxaca, Mexico. A sterile plant subsequently flowered in the Botanical Garden in Gottingen some months later. Luckily in 2007, we were able to revisit the locality and collect material that can serve as the type specimen.
Tillandsia yutaninoensis with its long, fat rhizome is solidly anchored to the rock surface. Many whorls of old, perished leaves cover the rooted base, which is up to 50 cm long, and it is hypothesised that the plant has to attain a certain age before producing an inflorescence.
From Die Brom 2008(3): 152-3.
Erratum regarding article
T. yutaninoensis Ehlers & Lautner, sp. nov. in DIE BROMELIE 2007(2): 56-63.
In the above mentioned article inclusions which stand in contradiction to the authors' opinions and which were not approved, were added by the editorial staff of DIE BROMELIE. The chair and the editorial staff of the German Bromeliad Society greatly regret this situation and express their apologies to the authors.
All text references as well as additional literature references on Tillandsia juerg-rutschmannii were printed without the authors' permission. This regards especially the pages 61 and 62 and the illustration of Tillandsia juerg-rutschmannii.
In the inserted text the possible development of 2nd order side branches is discussed:
"Flowering was observed only a few times and only a few collections are made in both species, therefore a conclusion cannot be drawn, whether T. yutaninoensis may develop side-branches of 2nd order under beneficial conditions or not." This statement contradicts the views of the authors. Ms. Ehlers makes correction by saying:
“Our experience regarding T. yutaninoensis is very different. The authors and their friends had the opportunity of seeing many flowering plants at the type locality. They located giant plants, which were certainly many decades old, with a long rhizome and very, very hard roots, which grew on rock faces and which have found here at the original site optimal surroundings. It's hard to think of more beneficial conditions than here to develop 2nd order side branches."
Ms. Ehlers summarises by saying: "T. yutaninoensis is closest related to T. ulrici and has little to do with T. juerg-rutschmannii. In detail, the flowers are very different and the juvenile plants without inflorescence (cultivated in the botanical garden in Gottingen and in the collection of Ms. Ehlers) are clearly different..."
The changes that the editorial staff included in the text shortly before printing the journal, were obviously not preceded by careful research work. Determination using the key of Smith & Downs (1977) would have led to different paths.
Andreas Boker —SeeDie Bromelie
