Tillandsia ionantha
Introduction '''''Tillandsia ionantha''''', the '''air plant''' (a common name shared by most species in its genus), is a species of plant in the genus ''Tillandsia''. This species is native to Central America and Mexico. It is also reportedly naturalized in Broward County, Florida.
Description They are acaulescent or sometimes shortly caulescent plants, with a size of 6–8 cm high. The leaves are 4–9 cm long; with pods 0.6–1 cm wide, densely patent fabric; narrow triangular sheets, 0.3–0.4 cm wide, dense lepidota indument, foliaceous bracts; compound inflorescence (of simple appearance due to the reduction of the spikes to 1 flower), with 1–3 flowers, primary foliaceous bracts, much longer than the spikes, floral bracts 3 cm long, longer than the sepals and covering them in the anthesis, ecarinated, inconspicuously nervate, glabrous, membranous, sessile flowers; sepals are 2 cm long, free, the posterior carinate, the anterior ecarinated; purple petals. Capsules are 2.5–4.5 cm long.
Taxonomy ''Tillandsia ionantha'' was described by Jules Emile Planchon and published in Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe 10: 101, t. 1006.1854–1855 1855.
Etymology *'''''Tillandsia''''': generic name that was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1738 in honor of the Finnish doctor and botanist Elias Tillandz (originally Tillander; 1640–1693). *'''''ionantha''''': epithet Latin meaning "with violet flowers"*===Synonymy===*''Tillandsia ionantha'' f. ''fastigiata'' P.Koide*''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. Max Ehlers*''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. ''scaposa'' LBSmith*''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. ''stricta'' P.Koide*''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. ''van-hyningii'' MBFoster*''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. ''zebrina'' BTFoster*''Tillandsia rubentifolia'' Poisson & Menet*''Tillandsia scopus'' Hook. F. 4===Varieties===Two varieties are recognized:#''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. ''ionantha'' – most of species range#''Tillandsia ionantha'' var. ''stricta'' Koide – Oaxaca
Gallery File:Matthaei Botanical Gardens - IMG 8999.JPG|A plant in displayFile:Tillandsia ionantha - Lyman Plant House, Smith College - DSC04227.JPG|On a displayFile:Tilandsia Ionantha flower.jpg|Inflorescence closeupFile:Tillandsia ionantha 2.jpg|Flowering on a fenceFile:Tillandsia ionantha "Druid".jpg|Cultivar ''Tillandsia'' 'Druid'File:20100522 Tillandsia Victoria.jpg|Cultivar ''Tillandsia'' 'Victoria'
References