Tillandsia aeranthos
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Tillandsia aeranthos
Ken Woods.
John Campbell, Sydney 09/06.
IKH, Sydney, 10/04.
IKH, Sydney, 10/04.
Ian Hook, Sydney, 11/05.

Tillandsia aeranthos var. aemula
Peter Tristram 07/11.
Chris Larson 07/11.
Clockwise from from left: winkleri (Tropiflora), aeranthos, aeranthos aemula (Tropiflora), jonesii (Tropiflora). Photo Peter Tristram 28/07/11.

Notes from Tillnuts discussion group about var. aemula -
(Ed. - keep in mind the perpetual struggle between "splitters" and "groupers" as you study the following.)

Peter Tristram 24/07/11
One thing about winter is that many of the smaller Brazilian Tillandsia species and hybrids bloom for months. First were tenuifolia and smaller recurvifolia forms then various strictas and neglectas plus red Brazilians like gardneri forms, brachyphylla (posted that one) and heubergeri, but all overlapping to some degree along the time line. At the moment, in full stride, are a couple of newies I got from Tropiflora last year – jonesii and aeranthos v aemula. both very attractive additions. Soon will be other red Brazilains, gardneri v rupicola, more stricta forms and most of the other aeranthos types. Great winter cheer! It will be interesting to see what the seedlings will look like in 4 or 5 years.

Derek Butcher 25/07/11
No wonder Eric Gouda says they are all T. tenuifolia. >:-} Have you checked the var. aemula with Strehl's description and photo? I don't know why Strehl decided on these T. aeranthos varieties but because she has, plants with these names should closely follow the description.
Peter Tristram 27/07/11
Yes Derek, descriptions checked.
T jonesii is pretty distinctive.
The so-called aemula has the long fb (23-30mm), is larger sized, etc but that taxon is pretty shaky anyway. It certainly looks different to all of my many other aeranthos forms but that is best observed in real life. Who am I to argue with Dennis's naming?
I also got T winkleri from Dennis but yet to bloom, but it will be an interesting comparison. Plant looks like a large jonesii including the red foliage. The latter 2 grow on cliffs whereas aeranthos likes trees, so I gather. Has Len got pics of his plants in this group?
Chris Larson 27/07/11
Here are a couple of photos with more of the actual plants. Hand held camera, hand held plant & on a point & shoot camera - not as nice as Peter's photos. Main thing I wanted to show is the nice foliage on jonesii. More towards thin neglecta foliage or like some of the tenuifolia forms.
Len Colgan 28/07/11
About 8-10 years ago, I received a single plant of T. polzii and another of "unknown Tillandsia from Professor Winkler" from Renate. Neither has ever flowered, despite forming clumps. In fact, I have passed on a couple of grown plants removed from each clump.
Two things worry me about this:
Firstly, my T. polzii plant (without inflorescence) doesn't look anything like pictures of this species that have been shown on Tillnuts.
Secondly, I am only guessing that the plant labelled "unknown Tillandsia from Professor Winkler" might be T. winkleri. I did obtain it a few years before the name T. winkleri appeared in the article written by Strehl.
Hence, until if and when they flower, I can add nothing to this interesting discussion of the relatives of T. aeranthos ... other than acknowledging that I also obtained a plant which I "identified" as T. bella and which has flowered consistently, but which looks very close to Pete's pictures of T. polzii.
Peter Tristram 28/07/11
Check these out for comparison - clockwise from from left: winkleri (Tropiflora), aeranthos, aeranthos aemula (Tropiflora), jonesii (Tropiflora). Any similarities? Also I have posted T bella a couple of times, originally as T polzii as that was what it was labelled. I then bloomed a plant from Renate labelled sp Bella which was identical and the rest is history. I have also posted T polzii also from Renate so I wonder what your plant is, Len?
I imagine there are thousands of rockfaces in Rio Grande Do Sul with all manner of variations of these and other spp.
I just found a 'Winkler' plant that you gave me a couple of years back and it is similar to both winkleri and aeranthos v aemula from Tropiflora. It has no leaf pigment though, and very frosted.
Derek Butcher 28/07/11
Len - Even with my enquiring mind I have never queried Renate on identification on any plant I got from her. Are you sure that the tag on your T. polzii has not disintegrated in the sun. I could let you have one of the common flowering form if you like.
With T. winkleri you have to consider the odds and you would be better at it than me. All collections of this plant have been from Rio Zinho in Rio Grande do Sul so the plants that Renate had, have a great chance to be correct. secondly she checked her plants against Strehl's description.
Len Colgan 28/07/11
Thursday, 28 July 2011 9:05 PM Hi Pete, that photo showing four forms is very useful. It is interesting that the plant from Winkler that I gave to you hasn't flowered either. I think Grant has one, and I wonder if the Queensland weather might trigger it.
Peter Tristram 29/07/11
Hi Len. After a close examination of the Winkler plant, I reckon it's the same as the one in the dvd (and on fcbs) that Renate photographed. I reckon it'll bloom in a year or 2 up this way (and further). It's only small still!
Updated 30/07/11