Peter Tristram 19/12/11 - I decided to take some pics of a plant Barry Genn recently (very) gave me. It is referred to as T. reichenbachii White (flowered form) and a lovely little beauty at that. As you can see there is some pigment in those petals. What struck me was the close resemblance to a plant from Burkhard Holm - plant obtained as seedling from T. streptocarpa White and probably a cross of White with the normal form. Once again, interesting pigmentation on close examination. A macro of the white streptocarpa from Lotte is also attached and this one is all white with a yellow corolla – there is variation in this group of Lotte’s collected plants.
Apart from how lovely these forms are, the name reichenbachii again confuses me. All of the plants I have seen and imported as either reichenbachii or tucumanensis (synonyms) are very small, only about 10-15cm in bloom whereas the descriptions refer to plants of 20cm or more with a dense rosette of polystichous leaves. Uwe Scharf has spent considerable time studying the complex including streptocarpa, arhiza, retrorsa, paleacea, duratii, graomogolensis and so on, both in the extensive European collections and in the wild. He makes interesting listening on this group, so I am going to ask if he has a summary he can help us with.

Jenny Brittain 08/15 ... "We've enjoyed watching this beautiful flower start opening since yesterday. Going from a very deep dark purple to a very pretty, bit lighter purple with a white centre and beautiful fragrance. This one came from Greg Aizlewood's stable."
Jenny Brittain 11/17 ... "Enjoying this T. reichenbachii 'white flower'. It has a gorgeous soft perfume and on the outer petal the faintest purple markings."

Ian Hook 10/20

Rob Bower 11/20

Pam Butler 11/22

Desc from S&D p858-9
Plant caulescent, flowering over 2 dm high; stem curved, stout, 2-5 cm long.
Leaves densely polystichous, to 14 cm long;
Sheaths large, very broadly elliptic or suborbicular, glabrous, lustrous and allutaceous except for the lepidote apex;
Blades recurving butnot spiraling, very narrowly triangular, 8 mm wide, involute-subulate, rigid, covered with subappressed cinereous scales.
Scape erect, slender;
Scape-bracts imbricate, tubular-involute about the scape, sublanceolate, subacute, nerved, lepidote.
Inflorescence compactly bipinnate from 2-8 spikes or sometimes simple, to 70 mm long, 45 mm in diameter;
Primary bracts like the scape-bracts but obtuse, shorter than the spikes;
Spikes subsessile, erect to somewhat decurved, linear, acute, 30 mm long, 9 mm wide, densely 5-7-flowered, complanate.
Floral bracts enfolding the flowers and exposing the rhachis, elliptic, obtuse, 10.5 mm long, shorter than the sepals, ecarinate, subchartaceous, nerved, glabrous, sublustrous; Pedicels very short.
Sepals elliptic, rounded, 12 mm long, ecarinate, connate 2 mm posteriorly and 1 mm anteriorly, subcoriaceous, even, glabrous;
Petals naked; blades suborbicular, 7 mm long, blue-violet;(and white – Butcher)
Stamens deeply included, exceeding the pistil.
Type. No specimen. Typified by a crude but recognizable sketch on a postcard, Reichenbach icon (K).
DISTRIBUTION. Epiphytic in woods, 200-2000 m alt, southern Bolivia and northwest-ern Argentina.
BOLIVIA. SANTA CRUZ, Oriente: Charagua, Apr 1934, Cardenas 2682 (GH). T ARIJA, Chaca: Curuenda, Mar 1934, Cdrdenas 2532 (F, GH). CHUQUISACA, Tamina: Mantecanta, 24 Nov 1927, Troll 77-A (B). ARGENTINA.Jujuy: San Pedra, 5 Nov 1925, Schreiter 5153 (BA, GH, LIL, NY, US); 17 Nov 1926, Venturi 5326 (US-); Estes Hacienda, Jujuy, 25 Sep 1938, Eyerdam & Beetle 22190 (GH, UC, US); 5 Oct 1938, 22464 (GH, UC); by Salta line, 23 Oct 1948, Velarde s n (US); Jujuy ta Urundel, 1948, Humbert 21156 (P). SALTA: Quebrada de Talapampa, Dec 1915, Schreiter s n (GH, LIL, NY); Tartagal, Oran, 25 Oct 1924, Schreiter 3480 (GH, LIL, NY); Alemania, Guachipas, 24 Nov 1929, Venturi 9883 (GH); 12 Dec 1929, 10018 (GH); Nov 1933, Peirano s n (GH, LIL, NY); 20 Oct 1948, L. B. Smith 4656 (US); Ria Juramenta, F.C.C.N.A., 20 Nov 1933, Peirano s n (GH, LIL, NY, US); Manuel Pedraza, Oran, 7 Nov 1938, Eyerdam & Beetle 22875 (GH, UC). TUCUMAN: El Cadillal, 17 Nov 1904, Lillo 3827 (GH, LIL, NY); Quebrada San Rafael, Dec 1918, Schreiter 802 (GH, LIL, MVM, NY); Tapia, Trancas, 28 Nov 1920, Venturi 1151 (US); Barranca Calarada, Capital, 27 Oct 1921, Venturi 1151-A (US); Santiago del Estera line, Leales, 28 Sep 1922, Venturi 1910 (GH, LIL, MVM, US); Ingenia San Pabla, Dec 1925, Castillon s n (GH, LIL, NY); Cerra del Campo, 17 Dec 1928, Venturi 7759 (US). SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, Pellegrini: Cerra del Remate, 23 Dec 1927, Venturi 5731 (GH, LIL). FORMOSA: Ria Teuca, Matacas, 15 Ju1 1947, Castellanos s n (LIL); Ing. Guillerma Juarez, 21 Feb 1951, Castiglione & Ragonese 7905 (BAB).

Protologue
Tillandsia reichenbachii Baker, Handb. Bromel. 166. 1889.
81. T. REICHENBACHII Baker. Leaves few, spreading, densely rosulate, linear- acuminate, 4-6 in. long, 1/4 in. broad low down. Peduncle shorter than the leaves; bract-leaves many, small, lanceolate, adpressed, imbricated. Flower solitary, terminal. Sepals oblong, 1/2 in, long. Petal-blade obovate-cuneate; expanded corolla limb 3/4 in. diam. Stamens not longer than the calyx.
Hab. Tucuman. Described from the late Prof. Reichenbach's sketch of a plant flowered at Hamburg in Oct., 1884.

From Mez 1935
348. T. tucumanensis Mez in DC. Monogr. Phaner. IX. (l896) 853; Castellanos in Anal. Mus. Argent. Ci. Nat. XXXVII. (1933) 507. - Caulescens, paullo ultra 0.2 m alta. Folia omnia optime recurvata, ad 0.14 m longa, super vaginam ad 8 mm lata, inde in apicem acutum sensim angustata, tota longitudine canaliculatim involuta subangulatim subulata, perrigida, lepidibus maximis incana. Scapus conspicuus, dense vaginis tomentello-lepidotis, prominulo-venosis, late acutiusculis, internodia superantibus involutus. Inflorescentia submultiflora, 2-pinnatim panniculata, e spicis brevibus composita compacta, ad 70 mm longa et 45 mm diam. metiens; spicis 5-8, densis subflabellatis, ad 30 mm longis et 9 mm latis, erectis vel lateralibus ex erecto minute decurvis, 5-7 floris; bracteis florigeris quam sepala permanifeste brevioribus, flores involventibus, subchartaceis, glabris, subnitidis, prominenti-venosis, ellipticis, subrotundatis, ad 10,5 mm longis. Flores stricte erecti; sepalis antico cum reliquis ad 1 mm, ceteris inter sese ad 2 mm connatis, subcoriaceis, glabris, laevibus, ellipticis, subrotundatis, ad 12 mm longis. Petala stamina longe superantia. Stylus ovario subaequilongus.
Argentina: bei Tucuman, Barranca colorada (Lorentz und Hieronymus) . - Ausserdem nach Castellanos: Prov. Jujuy, San Pedro, Santa Clara (Schreiter n. 26/l2311. Ciudad de Jujuy (Castillon n 6606).
Plant caulescent, a little over 0.2 m high.
Leaves well recurved, to 0.14 m long, above the sheath to 8 mm wide, then gradually narrowing to an acute tip, canaliculate involute for its entire length subangular subulate, very rigid, extremely grey lepidote.
Scape conspicuous, densely covered by tomentose lepidote sheaths, prominently veined, broad acute, exceeding the internodes.
Inflorescence submultiflowered, bipinnate paniculate, with short compact spikes, to 70 mm long and 45 mm diam.;
Spikes 5-8, dense subflabellate, to 30 mm long and 9 mm wide, erect or a little decurved laterally from the erect, 5-7 flowered;
Floral bracts clearly shorter than the sepals, enclosing the flowers, subchartaceous, glabrous, sub-shiny, prominently veined, elliptic, subrounded, to 10.5 mm long.
Flowers strictly erect;
Sepals anterior one with remains to 1 mm, others to 2 mm connate, subcoriaceous, glabrous, smooth, elliptic, subrounded, to 12 mm long.
Petals long exceeding the stamens. Style almost as long as the ovary.
Argentina: near Tucumin, Barranca colorada (Lorentz und Hieronymus) . - Also Castellanos: Prov. Jujuy, San Pedro, Santa Clara (Schreiter n. 26/l2311. Ciudad de Jujuy (Castillon n 6606).

Protologue
Tillandsia tucumanensis Mez, DC. Monogr . Phan. 9: 853. 1896.
217. T. Tucumanensis; foliis caulem densissime quaquaverse obtegentibus abbreviate nec tubulose vaginatis, utrinque lepidibus obtectis incanis, haud spirali-recurvatis; inflorescentia bipinnatim panniculata; spicis densis subflabellatis 5-8; bracteolis florigeris quam sepala permanifeste brevioribus; floribus stricte erectis; sepalis antico cum reliquis ad 1mm., celeris inter sese ad 2 mm. connatis; staminibus inclusis. Epiphyta, caule rnanifesto percrassoque, curvato, florifera paullo ultra 0.2 m. alta. Folia omnia optime recurvata, basi in vaginam maximam, latissime ellipticam fere orbicularem, utrinque apice lepidoto-tomentello excepto glabrarn nitidamque, allutaceam dilatata, +/- 0.14 m. longa, super vaginam ad 8 mm. lata inde in apicem acutum sensim angustata, tota longitudine canaliculatim involuta subangulatim subulata, perrigida. Scapus conspicuus, erectus, dense vaginis dorso tomentellis prominuloque venosis, sublanceolatis, apice late acutiusculis, tubulosis, internodia permanifeste superantibus imbricatisque involutus. Inflorescentia submultiflora, e spicis brevibus composita, compacta, ± 70 mm. longa, 45 mm. diam.; spicis subsestilibus, 5-7-floris, +/- 30 mm. longis, 9 mm. latis, erectis vel lateralibus ex erecto minute decurvis; bracteis primariis omnino vaginis scapalibus isomorphis sed apice rotundatis, quam spicae axillares multo brevioribus; bracteolis florigeris flores involventibus, subchartaceis, dorso glabris subnitidisque prominenti-venosis, explanatis ellipticis apiceque subrotundatis, +/- 10.5 mm. longis, 5.5 mm. latis. Flores brevissime pedicellati; sepalis subcoriaceis, dorso glabris laevibusque, explanatis ellipticis apice subrotundatis, ± 12 mm. longis, 5 mm. latis. Petala imperfecte solum mihi cognita. Stamina antheris linearibus, utrinque rotundatis, 4 mm. longis, medio dorsifixis. Ovarium paullo elongatum prisrnaticum, apice in stylum, crissum, subaequilongum subito contractum; stigmatibus brevibus, pulvinatis; ovulis longe caudatis.
Argentina, prope Tucuman ad Barranca colorada : Lorentz et Hieronymus, - Floret Octobri. (V. s. in herb, Berol.)

355. T. euosma Spegazzini in Physis III. (1916-17) 157. –
Phytarrhiza foliis caulem elongatum dense quaquaverse vestientibus dense adpresseque cinereo-lepidotis; inflorescentia usque ad 8-flora, simplicissima, distiche flabellata; bracteis dorso vix sparse lepidotis obtusiusculis sepala non aequantibus; floribus stricte erectis, sepalis omnibus a basi fere liberis; petalorum limbo suborbiculari coeruleo margine minute denticulato; staminibus profunde inclusis stylum superantibus. - Individua bene evoluta 15 cm vel ultra longa.
Caulis (40-60 mm longus, 5-7 mm diam.) breviter pluries bifurcatim ramosus, ramo quoque in rosulam foliorum 10-20 valde divergentium, inferiorum subhorizontalium (60-90 mm longorum, 6-7 mm latorum) basi arcte vaginantium desinente; lamina subcylindrica rigida, dorso rotundata supra profunde canaliculata, integerrima, persensim in apicem rectum vel plus minus arcuatum vel nonnunquam demum tortum angustata, omnino stratu denso squamoso, saepius plumoso, obscure cinereo-argenteo obtecta. Scapus tenuis, rectus, 70-80 mm longus et 1.5-2 mm diam., nitens, vaginis tubulosis, internodia paullo superantibus, haud laminigeris sed acutis, dorso paullo lepidotis involutus. Spica sueto simplex (raro breviter bifida usque ad multifida), lanceolata, plus minus 40 mm longa et 10 mm late, paullo inflata, utrinque aequaliter angustata, nitida, obscure virens; bracteis ovali-lanceolatis (11 mm longis et 3.5 mm latis), obtusiusculis vix mucronatis, 7-9-nerviis, chartaceis, perparce lepidotis. Flores 22 mm longi, Jasminum fortiter redolentes, pedicellis brevissimis obconicis stipitati. Sepala lanceolata (12 mm longa et 5 mm lata) lucide viridia, basin usque libera, in apicem rotundatum angustata, margine latissime scariosa et incoloria. Petala (18-20 mm longa) in unguem linealem (11 mm longum, 2 mm latum) album et semitransparentem contracta tunc in laminam horizontaliter ex¬pansam (8-9 mm longam, 10-11 mm latam) pallide violaceam, margine superiore paullo denticulatam dilatata. Stamina florum faucem haud attingentia petalis plus quam duplo breviora, 8-9 mm longa; filamentis planis, 6 mm longis, albis, antheris 1.8-2 mm longis aurantiacis. Ovarium ovatum, 3.5-4 mm longum, obtuse trigonum, lucide viride, in stylum filiformem crassiusculum albidum productum, stigmatibus minutis.
Argentina: Catamarca, bei Piedra Blanca, auf Zweigen von Ceratonia (Spegazzini). - Non vidi; diagn. ex autore laudato.
Nota. Species secundum Castellanos in Anal. Mus. Argent. Ci. Nat. XXXVII.,(1933) 507 a T. tucumanensi Mez haud diversa.

Protologue
Tillandsia herzogii Wittmack, sp. n. (Subgenus Phytarrhiza). Meded. Rijks Herb. Leiden 29: 89. 1916.
Type. Cumbarute, Cordillera, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Herzog 1151 (B, F photo 11502; L).
Caulis abbreviatus vel subnullus. Folia ± rosulata, brevia, vix 10 cm longa, linearia, involuta, e vagina paullo ampliata 8 mm lata, intus nec glabra, sensim in acumen longum uncinater recurvatum attenuata optime, cum vaginis, lepidibus subpatentibus micante albo-pruinosa. Scapus erectus, foliis paullo longiore, cum inflorescentia 12 cm longus, vaginis elongato-lanceolatis acutis, internodiis longioribus vestitus. Inflorescentia brevis, simplex, spicata vel subramosa. spica disticha circ. 8-flora, ad 5 cm longa, 1 cm, florente 2 cm lata. Bracteae florigerae ovato-lanceolatae calyce breviores, glabrae vel infimae dorso tantum lepidotae. Sepala postica bina paullo altius inter sese quam cum antico connata, lanceolata, 12-14 mm longa, glaberrima. Petala usque ad medium in tubum 11 mm longum angustum conglutinata, lamina maxima, late deltoideo-orbiculata, optime explanata, 10 mm longa, ad 12 mm lata, ex cl. Herzog lilacina. Stamina profunde inclusa, stylum superantia, antherae 2.3 mm longae, pollen ovatum. Ovarium cum stylo breve 7 mm longum, angustum, 1.5 mm diametro, Capsula longissima, ad 25 mm longa, anguste cylindrica, valvae lineares, flavae, apice cuspidatae, brunneae. Semina non vidi.
Haufig im "Monte" bei Cumbarute, 300 m (no. 1151. Dec. 1910).
An einem der drei von mir gesehenen Exemplare sind 3! Blutenschafte, davon der eine offenbar vorjahrige mit zwei leeren Kapseln. Die Blatter sind an diesem Exemplar etwas kurzer als bei den andern.
Diese schone, wenn auch kleinere Art gleicht im Habitus einer verkleinerten T. streptocarpa Bak:, hat aber Blattscheiden, die auch auf der Innenseite durch Schuppenhaare kleiig, nicht glatt sind, und lila, nicht violette Blumen; auch ahnlich T. aurea Mez in Fedde. Rep. III, 44, die sich durch breitere Blattscheiden, noch seidenhaarigere Blatter, lockereren Blutenstand u. gelbe Blumen unterscheidet.
An den beiden leeren Kapseln, die sich an einem Exemplar beftinden, ist das Endocarp, das sich offenbar leicht ablost, nicht mehr vorhanden, sodass ich nicht sagen kann, ob es wie bei T. streptocarpa zur Reifezeit gedreht ist.