Species

An epiphytic species described by Rauh in 1974, placed in subgenus Tillandsia (= Platystachys). The rosette reaches approximately 40 cm in height with a moderately bulbous base about 10 cm in diameter. The leaf sheaths are roundish-oval, densely covered with dark brown appressed trichomes. The leaf blades are narrowly triangular, up to 30 cm long and 2 cm wide near the sheath, involute, with dense grey appressed trichomes beneath and sparse trichomes above. The scape is 5 to 15 cm long, shorter than the rosette, erect but curving downward at the apex. The inflorescence is pendulous, up to 40 cm long, bipinnate, with narrow spikes bearing bicolored floral bracts in orange-yellow and green. The flowers are yellow. The species grows primarily in the wet tropical biome of Ecuador.

Endemic to the high Andes of Colombia. This species resembles Tillandsia turneri but is smaller, growing in sub-paramo vegetation.

A rare lithophytic species from Bahia, Brazil, named after renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx who collected the type specimen. Forms clumps with stems up to 30 cm long that hang down with tips curving upward. Leaves are numerous, spirally arranged, very thick and succulent, nearly terete (cylindrical), only 2-4 cm long. Densely covered in gray trichomes. Produces simple inflorescences with 3-5 flowers having yellow-green bracts and white petals. Supremely adapted to harsh exposed rock cliff faces.