Tillandsia bergeri Mez

Echeverría, María L., Alonso, Sara I. & Comparatore, Viviana M., 2017, Survey of the vascular plants of Sierra Chica, the untouched area of the Paititi Natural Reserve (southeastern Tandilia mountain range, Buenos Aires province, Argentina), Check List 13 (6), pp. 1003-1036 : 1018

Tillandsia bergeri Mez

Figure 13

Tillandsia bergeri Mez (1916) : 254 — Cabrera (1968): 455; Flora

Argentina (2017); Tropicos (2017).

Epiphyte, native with distribution in the Southern Cone Region of South America. Vulnerable for reasons unknown ( Delucchi 2006).

Characteristics. Perennial plant, to 30 cm tall, with branched roots, and stems covered with sheathed leaves. Leaves lanceolate, forming rosettes, covered with grey scales. Peduncles short, with bracts. Inflorescence: a spike with 6–10 flowers, 25–30 mm long; floral bracts and sepals green to pink; petals blue. Fruit: capsule.

Comments. This is an infrequent species in the study area. It grows in full sunlight conditions in cracks of rocks on summits, where it forms hanging clumps. It is the only species of the genus that has been found in the Tandilia mountain range system. It is the only lithomorphic species found in rocky outcrops and presents dense roots and leaves, multiflorous spikes and green to pink floral bracts and sepals, not reddish like T. aëranthos (Loisel) L. B. Smith.