Tillandsia purpurea
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Tillandsia purpurea
Perfumed.
Ken Woods 06/05.
Steve Molnar 10/18
Eric Gouda 01/21
Steve Molnar ... "Got this one a little while ago, and I must have taken good care of it as it has now rewarded me with a beautifully fragrant flower and quite a few pups popping out. Should make a really nice clump."
Dale Dixon ... "This is a stunning plant. Surely it’s related to T. cacticola? The flowers are very similar with that purple edge."
Derek Butcher ... "Interesting you should say that because T. purpurea has been known for 216 years and cacticola a mere baby at 64 years. AND natural hybrids between the two have been reported!"
Eric Gouda ... "T. purpurea is hard to grow for me, I had several collected in Peru, different forms. The one above, I'm growing for decades and lately it did quite well and I was very surprised it started to flower last fall. Now it flowers only with a few flowers, but it smells delicious, a really strong and nice perfume.
I added pictures of several forms in the Encyclopedia of Bromeliads: http://bromeliad.nl/species/Tillandsia/purpurea"

Description from S&D p866-7
Tillandsia purpurea Ruiz & Pavon, Fl. Peruv. 3: 41, pl. 270, fig. a. 1802.
Tillandsia straminea Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov.. Gen. & Sp. 1: 292. 1816. Type. Olleros, Piura, Peru, Humboldt & Bonpland s n (P, B, F photo 11530), Aug 1802.
Treated as species in its own right by Luther in Binomials 1 1990– no reasons given.
Tillandsia azurea Presl, Rel. Haenk. 1: 124, pl. 24. 1827. Type. Huanuco, Peru, Haenke s n (PR. photo US). Moves with straminea
Tillandsia scoparia Willdenow ex Schultes filius in Roemer & Schultes Syst. 7(2): 1217. 1830: nomen in synon. Moves with straminea
Tillandsia longebracteata Meyen, Reise 2: 45. 1835. Type. Islay, Arequipa, Peru, Meyen s n (B lost, fide Mez).
Platystachys purpurea (Ruiz & Pavon) Beer, Bromel. 89. 1857.
Anoplophytum longebracteatum Beer, Bromel. 264. 1857; nomen in synon.
Platystachys scoparia Beer, Bromel. 265. 1857; nomen. based on Tillandsia scoparia Willdenow ex Schultes filius.
Phytarhiza purpurea E. Morren ex Baker, Handb. Bromel. 167. 1889; nomen in synon.
NOTE. Recent field observations by Rauh indicate that Tillandsia straminea and T. purpurea merge in all characters that were formerly used to separate them. Apparently T. straminea is the primitive inland epiphytic form and T. purpurea the highly adapted sea beach form of a single species.
Plant very variable, stemless to long-caulescent, flowering to 7 dm long.
Leaves rosulate or distributed along the stem, polystichous, 1-2 dm long, covered with fine cinereous or fuscous spreading scales;
Sheaths obscure;
Blades narrowly triangular, 14 mm wide, filiform-attenuate, more or less recurving. Scape erect, slender, variable in length;
Scape-bracts imbricate, narrowly elliptic, filiform-laminate, thin, densely lepidote.
Inflorescence bipinnate, sublaxly pyramidal, to 9 cm long;
Primary bracts lanceolate, acute, shorter than the spikes, stramineous to purple, lepidote to glabrous;
Spikes erect to spreading, subsessile, lanceolate, 30-60 mm long, lax, about 6-8-flowered; rhachis geniculate, exposed.
Floral bracts subspreading, lanceolate, acute, 15-20 mm long, about equaling to slightly exceeded by the sepals, carinate, incurved, stramineous, finely striate;
Pedicels distinct, cylindric, to 5 mm long.
Sepals equally subfree, lanceolate, acute, to 11 (-16) mm long, nerved, glabrous;
Petals purple or blue and white, the blades suberect at anthesis, elliptic, 5 mm long;
Stamens included; filaments straight, exceeding the pistil.
Type. Ruiz & Pavon s n (isotype EM, GH photo), Canta, Huarochiri, and near Lima, Peru.
Distribution. On sand, rock, and xerophytic vegetation, from near sea level to 900 (rarely 3100) m alt, coastal Ecuador and Peru.
ECUADOR. ORO: Ayabamba, Andre 4318 e p (K). LOJA: Loja, 23 Aug 1878, Lehmann s n (W); 31 May 1946, Espinosa E-456 (GH, US); 11 Jul 1947, Barling 1521 (S); 28 Nov 1948, Foster 2586 (US); Cisne, s d, Andre 4318 e p (K); Loja to Cisne, 3 Nov 1881, Poortmann 78 (P); El Tambo to La Toma, 3 Sep 1923, Hitchcock 21351 (GH, US); Chincha, San Pedro, 13 Oct 1955, Asplund 18126 (S, US); km 23, Loja to Catamayo, 10 Aug 1965, Gilmartin 1120 (US). PERU. PIURA: Cerro Prieto, May 1929, Haught 253 (US); Olmos, Trujillo to Chimbote, Aug 1956, Rauh P-369 (US); Abra Porculla, Huancabamba, 9 Jan 1964, Hutchison & Wright 3488 (UC, US). CAJAMARCA: San Marcos to Cajabamba, 6 Mar 1960, Correll & Smith P-906 (LL); Huacaris, 22 Oct 1965, Sanchez 166 (US); Cerro Santa Apolonia, 4 Jul 1967, Sanchez 250 (US); Huambos, 3 Jul 1968, Carmona 5034 (US). AMAZONAS: Daguas, Rio Sonche, Chachapoyas, 9 Ju1 1948, Pennell 15741 (PH, US); Sonche, 26 Jul 1962, Wurdack 1530 (US); Utcubamba, 7 Aug 1962, Soukup 4962 (US). LIBERTAD: Pacasmayo, 1912, Forbes s n (EM); Trujillo, 23 Aug 1953, Angulo 1990 (US); 16 Oct 1956, Rauh & Hirsch P-2266 (US); 24 Sep 1957, Lopez 1287 (US); Aug 1967, Rauh 20002 (US); Pataz: Aricapampa, Rio Maranon, 8 Aug 1964, Hutchison, Wright & Straw 6216 (F, UC, US, USM). ANCASH: Casma, km 335 Carretera Panamericana, 22 Apr 1953, Ferreyra 9149 (US, USM); Huarmey, 11 May 1964, Hutchison & Wright 5012 (F, UC, US, USM). LIMA: near Lima, s d, Dombey s n (P); 1832, Cuming 981 ep (EM); 1862, Nation s n (K); 1876, Savatier 1443 (K); Lima to Oroya, 26 Oct 1902, Weberbauer 1670 (E, G); Santa Clara, JuI 1914, Rose 18559 (US); 19480 (NY, US); Lurin, 23 Sep 1923, Macbride 5930 (F, GH); ruins of Cajamarquilla, 8 Oct 1935, West 3598 (GH); 25 Jul 1939, Schmidt s n (F, US); 15 Jun 1947, Ferreyra 2041 (US, USM); 27 Nov 1947, 2862 (US, USM); La Chay, Pativilca to Ancash, 18 Sep 1938, Stork, Horton & Vargas 9232 (GH); Hacienda Zarate, 1943, Soukup 2121 (GH, US); Pativilca, Earranca to Paramonga, 22 Apr 1953, Ferreyra 9150 (USM); Rio Rimac, 30 May 1954, Ferreyra 9749 (US, USM); 2 Mar 1958, Eyerdam 10735 (UC, US); Lima to Ancon, 7 Apr 1963, Dawson 24613 (US). HUANUCO: Llata, 21 Aug 1922, Macbride & Featherstone 2298 (F, US); Ambo to San Rafael, Huanuco, 7 Sep 1940, Asplund 13493 (S, US); Ambo, 18Jun 1953, Ferreyra 9205 (USM); 9214 (USM); Hacienda Quicacan" Ambo to Huanuco, 18 Jun 1953, Ferreyra 9227 (US; USM). JUNIN, Cerro: Valley of Paucartambo, 3 Aug 1956, Rauh P-158 (US); Tarma: Huacapistana, 25 Jun 1948, Ferreyra 3572 (US, USM); 21 Sep 1955, 11174 (US, USM); 11177 (US, USM); Palca, 26 Oct 1956, Cerrate 2768 (US, USM); 24 Nov 1962, Iltis & Ugent 23 (US, WIS); 30 Ju1 1966, La Rosa & Riccio 1506 (US); Acobamba, 18 Oct 1957, Ferreyra 12810-A (US, USM). ICA: Chanchamayo, Martinet 548 (P); Lomas de Amara, Ica, 10 Aug 1957, Angulo 2378 (US); Lomas de Marcona, Nazca, 22 Sep 1958, Ferreyra 13374 (US, USM); 13379 (US, USM); Eahia de San Nicolas, Nazca, 22 Sep 1958, Ferreyra 13388 (US, USM); Palpa, Ica, 17 Apr 1960, Ferreyra 14069 (US, USM). APURIMAC, Abancay: Queb¬rada de Matara, 29 Sep 1965, Vargas 16593 (US). AREQUIPA, Islay: near Mollendo, 29 Nov 1955, Ferreyra 11581 (US, USM); 1958, Rauh s n (US); 6 Oct 1963, Straw 2276 (US); Pampa de La Clemesi, Moquegua to Valle del Tambo, 2 Dec 1955, Ferreyra 11674 (US, USM); Valle del Tambo, La Jolla, 2 Dec 1955, Ferreyra 11680 (US, USM); Camana: Camana, 2 Dec 1955, Ferreyra 11683 (US, USM); 13 Jan 1964, Iltis & Ugent 1523 (US, WIS), s d, Ellenberg 2711 (U); Caraveli: Chaparra, 26 Nov 1958, Ferreyra 13477 (US, USM). MOQUEGUA: Ilo, Ellenberg 2754 (U).

NOTE In Binomials 1 1990 and confirmed in DeRebus I 1994 T. purpurea and T straminea were split with no reason given. Therefore the description has been taken from Mez 1934. In Mez’s key the difference was shown as ‘Floral bracts less or equalling the sepals for T. straminea and floral bracts a little exceeding the sepals for T. purpurea’. BUT in his descriptions he has T. straminea bracts 18mm sepals 16mm, sessile? and T. purpurea bracts 12mm sepals 11mm with pedicel up to 5mm!!! Whereas Baker in 1889 says T. straminea has calyx reaching the tip of the bract and T. purpurea has calyx as long as the bract.
In California Brom trade 1998
purpurea = short stiff leaves (Mez rigid, 20cm x 14mm wide)
straminea = long lax leaves (Mez leathery, 25cm x 10mm wide)

Description from Mez 1934
Tillandsia purpurea Ruiz & Pavon, Fl. Peruv. 3: 41, pl. 270, fig. a. 1802.
Platystachys purpurea Beer, Bromel. (1857) 89.
Phytarhiza purpurea, Morr ex Bak. Bromel (1889) 167.
Tillandsia longebracteata Meyen (non Bak.) Reise II. (1843) 45.
Anoplophytum longebracteatum Beer, l. c. 264.
Plant clearly caulescent, up to 40cm long
Leaves all or the exterior ones barely decurved, up to 20cm long and 14mm wide, from linear tapering to a subfiliform tip, rigid, covered with large scales totally white or grey.
Scape slender, erect, dense membranaceous sheaths, lepidote, a little exceeding the internodes, narrow elliptic, the blades stretched tenuous filiform involute. Inflorescence few flowered, sublax bipinnate panicle, up to 80mm long and 60mm diam., pyramidal,
Primary bracts lanceolate, lepidote, acute, shorter than the axillary spikes
Spikes well pinnate, up to 7 flowered, to 30mm long and 25mm wide, strongly geniculate
Floral bracts a little exceeding the sepals, membranaceous, glabrous, strong prominent veined, in no way imbricate, elliptic, slightly acute, the top portion sometimes minutely incurved, to 12mm long,
Flowers to 14mm long, suberect, sometimes the pedicels up to 5mm long,
Sepals almost equal, almost free, sub-membraneous, glabrous, prominently veined, elliptic, acute, to 11mm long.
Petals to 5mm longer than the sepals, blades oval, suberect, much exceeding the stamens,
Habitat near Lima ( Cuming 981 e.p., Dombey 142, Ruiz & Pavon, Wawra “ Donau” 2655 e.p.), near Islay ( Meyen), near Obrajillo ( Brackenridge ), near Palca ( Collect. Ignot. in herb. Mez)

Tillandsia straminea H B K. Nov. Gen. et Spec. I. (1815) 285
Tillandsia scoparia Willd. ex Roem. et Schult. Syst. VII. (1830) 1217
Platystachys scoparia Beer, Bromel. (1857) 265
Tillandsia azurea Presl, Rel. Haenk. II. (1835-36)124, t. 24
Platystachys azurea Beer, 1. c. 90

Description from Mez 1935
Plant stemless, to 50cm high.
Leaves by no means forming a bulbose rosette, to 25cm long, 10mm wide next to sheath, then tapering gradually to a long filiform tip, leathery, large lepidote, spreading, brownish pruinose.
Scape slender, erect, doubly exceeding the leaves, dense straw coloured sheaths, sub membranaceous, elliptic- lanceolate, the tip of the lower bracts threadlike and bent downwards, the upper ones much shorter, dense lepidote, involute.
Inflorescence many flowered, sub-digitate panicle, dense, to 9cm long, and 6cm wide.
Primary bracts elliptic-lanceolate, long acute, shorter than the spikes.
Spikes ca 6, 6-8 flowered, subsessile, subpinnate, to 6.5cm long and 3cm wide, sub-erect.
Floral bracts a little shorter than the sepals, sub-erect, not at all imbricate, to 7mm apart, sub-membranaceous, prominently nerved on the back, carinate towards the tip and a little incurved, wide elliptic-ovate, acute, to 18mm long.
Flowers to 2.2cm long, sub-erect.
Sepals anterior free, posterior pair connate to 2mm, sub-leathery wide hyaline margins, wide ovate-elliptic, becoming obtuse, to 1.6cm long.
Petals longer than the sepals by up to 5mm, blades sub-erect, rounded.
Stamens included
Habitat Peru, near Olleros (Humboldt and Bonpland n. 3496), near Huanuco (Haenke), Tal des Rimac, to the ruined walls of Cajamarquilla (Seler n.252). Ecuador; near Riobamba (Andre n. 4318)

Description from Rauh (1979)
Tillandsia straminea H B K., 1816
Plant stemless to short-stemmed, up to 50cm high
Leaves forming a rosette, up to 25 cm long, heavily grey-scaled
Sheath not clearly delineated
Blade narrowly lanceolate, about 1.4cm wide, long-tapered
Scape slender, upright
Scape bracts overlapping, narrow, scaled, with a thin, straw yellow blade
Inflorescence compound, seldom simple
Primary bracts lanceolate, naked, straw yellow, shorter than the loose spikes of 6 to 8 flowers
Floral bracts flared, oval-pointed, 1.8 cm long, as long as the sepals, keeled
Flower up to 2.2 cm long, white, with a blue edge, fragrant, enveloping the stamens
Habitat Southern Ecuador to central Peru, from the coastal desert up to 2,500 m. Can easily be confused with T. purpurea from which it differs by its straw yellow and naked primary bracts

Description from Ruiz & Pavon
TILLANDSIA purpurea. Ruiz & Pavon, Fl. Peruv. 3: 41, pl. 270, fig. a. 1802.
7. T. panicula polystachya rosacea , floribus distichis , petalorum laminis purpureis, foliis ensiformi-subulatis recurvis.
PLANTA perennis, prolibus numerosis, aggregatis, procumbentibus, radicantibus.
RADIX ramoso-fibrosa , fusca.
SCAPUS solitarius, pedalis, erectus, teres, simplicissimus, glaber, squamis alternis, subulatis, longis, canaliculatis; inferne latis, amplexicauli-vaginantibus, convolutis, a nodo ad nodum incanis.
FOLIA sibi invicem incumbentia, subvaginantia, ensiformi-subulata , canaliculata, divergentia, reflexa , bi-tri-palmaria, canescentia, squamulis furfuris instar densissimis.
PANICULA terminalis , rosei coloris , spicis 5-9 , alternis composita , bracteis ovatis, acutis , concavis , striatis, incanis.
SPICAE oblongo-lanceolatae, pedunculatae, multiflorae.
FLORES distichi, imbricati, sessiles, bracteis oblongis, concavis , roseis stipati.
CALYX oblongus, roseus; laciniis convolutis, striatis.
PETALA inferne convoluta, superne patentia, unguibus albidis, laminis obscure purpureis.
CAPSULA oblongo-cylindrica, acuminata, pallescens; valvulis interioribus extus levibus, intus purpureo-atris, nitidis.
SEMINA numerosa, fulvescentia, stipite papposo-piloso.
HABITAT in Peruviae saxosis et arenosis locis, copiose in Limae , Huarocheri et Cantae collibus et tractibus.
FLORET Junio, et Julio.
VULGO in Lima nuncupant Cardo de Lomas.
Explic. Icon . 1. Flos intcger. 2. Calyx. 3 Petala. 4 Stamina. 5 Calyx in fructu. 6 Capsula. 7 Eadem apcrta valvulas internas externasque, et semina manifestans. 8. Valvula cum seminibus basi convoluta. 9 Eadem basi expansa. 10. Semen cum pappo explicato. 11. Idem pappo obvolutum. 12. Idem setulis stipatum.

Translated by Butcher
7. Tillandsia with a pink many spiked panicle, distichous flowered, blade of the petal purple, leaves ensiform-subulate recurved.
PLANT perennial, numerous offsetting, prostrate, with roots.
ROOTS fibrous branching, brownish.
SCAPE solitary, a foot long, erect, tubular, simple, glabrous, bracts alternate, subulate, long, channelled; lower part wide, amplexicaul sheath, convoluted, from node to node hoary.
LEAVES alternately folded inwards and lying upon themselves, almost sheathing, ensiform-subulate, channelled, divergent, reflexed, 6-9 inches long, becoming grey, with very dense furfuraceous scales.
PANICLE terminal, pink coloured, spikes 5-9 , alternately arranged, bracts ovate, acute, concave, striate, hoary.
SPIKE oblong-lanceolate, pedunculate, many flowered.
FLOWERS distichous, imbricate, sessile, bracts oblong, concave, pink crowded.
SEPALS oblong, pink; lacinia convolute, striate.
PETALS lower part convolute, upper part spreading, claw white, blade obscure purple.
CAPSULE oblong-cylindric, acuminate, becoming pale; interior valvule outside light, inside dark purple, shining.
SEEDS numerous, becoming brownish, crowded with pappus hairs.
HABITAT in Peru located on rocks and sand, copious in Lima, Huarocheri et Canta gathered together.
FLOWERED June, & July.
Common in Lima named Cardo de Lomas.
Explanation of Icon. 1. Entire flower. 2. Calyx. 3. Petal. 4 Stamen. 5 Catyx in fruit. 6 Capsule. 7 Eadem apcrta valvulas internas externasque, et semina manifestans. 8. Valvula cum seminibus basi convoluta. 9. Eadem basi expansa. 10. Semen cum pappo explicato. 11. ldem pappo obvolutum. 12. Idem setulis stipatum.


Food for thought...
Derek Butcher 02/18 ... re. straminea pictures... "why isn't your plant T. purpurea ? This has bugged me for years.
NOTE In Binomials 1 1990 and confirmed in DeRebus I 1994 T. purpurea and T. straminea were split with no reason given. Therefore the description has been taken from Mez 1934. In Mez’s key the difference was shown as ‘Floral bracts less or equalling the sepals for T. straminea and floral bracts a little exceeding the sepals for T. purpurea’. BUT in his descriptions he has T. straminea bracts 18mm sepals 16mm, sessile? and T. purpurea bracts 12mm sepals 11mm with pedicel up to 5mm!!! Whereas Baker in 1889 says T. straminea has calyx reaching the tip of the bract and T. purpurea has calyx as long as the bract.
Desc from Rauh (1979) Habitat Southern Ecuador to central Peru, from the coastal desert up to 2,500 m. Can easily be confused with T. purpurea from which it differs by its straw yellow and naked primary bracts.
In California Brom trade 1998 purpurea = short stiff leaves (Mez rigid, 20cm x 14mm wide), straminea = long lax leaves (Mez leathery, 25cm x 10mm wide)"

Peter Tristram 02/18 ... "In nature there are Pacific coastal plants with succulent, relatively short leaves generally regarded as purpurea and mountain plants, usually epiphytic, with long, lax, softer leaves that are thought to be straminea.
Then there is cacticola, which I have seen growing with straminea in the Cochabamba area of northern Peru. You also find what could be purpurea in the high Andes and many in-betweeners.
Interestingly none of the plants with distinct branches with more imbricate fb (usually lax after anthesis) that we tend to call cacticola, are fragrant, whereas all of the purpurea and straminea forms I have come across, are. Food for thought. Great bunch of plants!!
Franz Gruber has an amazing collection of these species, from Peru and Ecuador – damned shame about the bloody Xylella restrictions!"

Updated 14/01/21