Tillandsia barborkae
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Tillandsia barborkae
Listed in Taxon as synonymous (J.J.Halda & P.Hertus) with T. editae.
Michael H. J. Barfuss 07/23
Michael H. J. Barfuss 07/23
Michael H. J. Barfuss ... "This relative of Tillandsia edithae was already described in 2007 and was considered a synonym of Tillandsia edithae since then, but it isn't."

Tillandsia barborkae J. J. Halda & P. Hertus spec. nov. Acta Mus. Richnov. Sect. Natur 14(4): 105-126. 2007 now treated as a synonym of T. edithiae
DESCRIPTIO: A simili T. edithae floribus parvis brevitubulosis coccineis foliis crassi dense ferrugineo lepidotis distinguitur.
Caulescens, usque at 200 mm longa, pendula. Folia multa planiuscule rosulata, ad 100 mm longa, rigidula, e vagina vix ultra 25 mm lata in apicem subfiliformi-acutissimum persensim angustata, utrinque densissime lepidotibus maximis obtecta ferruginosaque. Scapis brevis, foliis brevior, dense lepidotus, vaginis erectis ovato-lanceolatis, omnibus in laminas longas subfiliformes productis, densissime lepidotis indutus. Inflorescentia multiflora, densissime paniculata, folia aequans vel paullo superans, e spicis usque ad 30, flores vix ultra 3 laxe dispositis gerentibus, laxe pinnatis, geniculatis, bracteas primarias superantibus, suberectis, usque ad 30 mm longis composita, usque ad 40 mm longa et 30 mm diametiens; axibus densissime lepidoto-ferrugineis; bracteis primariis conspicuis, ellipticis, acutis, dorso dense lepidotis; bracteis florigeris ad 5 mm distantibus, dorso coccineis, quam sepala manifeste longioribus, cum floribus suberectis, ellipticis, acutis, ad 25 mm longis, haud carinatis, sepala involventibus. Flores ad 25 mm longi; subaliquater liberis, dorso glaberrimis, subellipticis, late acutis, ad 15 mm longis. Petala coccinea, laminis subtrapeziformibus, obtusis, per anthesin optime campanulatis. Stamina petalis subduplo breviora, stylum superantia. Capsula brunnea, ca 15 mm longa. Semina brunnea, oblonga, minuta.

HOLOTYPUS HIC DESIGNATUS: PR119'75; 20.11.2007, leg. J. J. Halda (JJH07112002).
PATRIA ET DISTRIBUTIO: Bolivia department Chuquisaca: saxetum verticalium prope urbi Nuevo Mundo 1750m supra mare.
DESCRIPTION: From similar T. edithae Rauh differs in having tiny bright red flowers with very short tube and succulent leaves, densely covered with rusty scales.
Plant caulescent pendant usually up to 200 mm long;
Leaves many, wide rosulate, up to 100 mm long, rigid, including sheath barely 25 mm wide, narrowed into sharp tip, whole rusty scaled;
Floral stem shorter than leaves, densely scaled, covered with ovate-lanceolate bracts;
Inflorescence many-flowered, very densely paniculate, the same length or a bit shorter than leaves, usually up 20 flowers in 1-3-branched panicle covered by primary bracts,
Primary bracts prominent, elliptic, acute, dorsally densely scaled;
Floral bracts ca 5 mm apart, outside bright red, much longer than calyx, suberect, elliptic, acute, up 25 mm long, not carinate, covering the calyx.
Flowers up 25 mm long, with petals somewhat free, outside glabrous, almost elliptic, widely acute, up to 15 mm long, bright red, somewhat rhombic, obtuse, at full bloom campanulate.
Anthers reach ca one half of petals; style elongate.
Fruit brown up to 15 mm long.
Seeds brown, oblong, tiny.
DISTRIBUTION: Bolivia, department Chuquisaca: dry bare vertical rocks up Nuevo Mundo at altitude 1750m above sea level.
Not cultivated yet.

Correspondence:

From: Derek Butcher. To: Eric Gouda
Subject: Tillandsia barborkae
Eric, Walter & Harry
Ever since this was published I have thought it to be a synonym of T. edithiae
The protologue says inflorescence compound but the drawing shows simple. I did ask Halda for a photo but got no reply.
Needless to say unofficial names for T. edithiae, like green form, orange flowered, etc are around
Any thoughts as to treating this as a synonym?
Derek

From: Harry Luther. To: Derek Butcher
Its the same as T. edithiae, will be treated as such in the next binomial list.

Updated 13/08/23