 |
A silver grey species from Guatemala that forms a globe of fine linear leaves. New to me this year (2008) and establishing slowly. Werner Rauh says: "In its non-blooming stage it is easily confused with T. plumosa, but at bloom time th latter has a distinctly developed scape and green flowers. Nevertheless, L.B.Smith has 'united' T. magnusiana and T. plumosa into one species, a view which we do not share. The examples we collected in the province of Chiapas, in the vicinity of Comitan near the Guatemalan border, differ so strongly from the type with their thin, short-scaled leaves, their sessile, simple spiked inflorescences and the violet flowers. T. plumosa from the area of Oaxaca has separated, feathery scales on the leaves, an elongated scape, a compound inflorescence, and green flowers. Therefore we consider T. magnusiana a separate species. Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador; epiphytic on oaks and conifers at altitudes between 1,100 and 2,000m. Little watering, very bright and sunny. With its white, fine to feathery scaled leaves, one of the most beautiful of the small tillandsias." Andy's Air Plants says: "Tillandsia magnusiana is a wonderful species from Central America where it grows as an epiphyte in forests and on scrub. This species is a particular favorite of mine, it ticks all the boxes. T. magnusiana has lovely soft, long leaves covered in tiny hairs (trichomes) and arranged like a pin cushion. The flower bud is stocky and maroon in color and the flowers which are quite long protrude from this bud. After flowering this bud will become a seed pod. When the pod splitts open it is black inside and reveals masses of fluffy white seeds that pour out hoping to be caught by a breeze. This species is easy to grow, flowers and pups easily usually making one or two pups, clumps of a few adult plants tend to fall apart, but that just gives you more plants. Tillandsia magnusiana can be grown in the highest light levels as long as it receives a good regular soaking/heavy misting and good air-movement so it dries quickly. Here it will grow quicker and can color up a little when in the flowering process." |
|
| 8th July 2008 | ||
