About Tillandsia achyrostachys É.Morren ex Baker
Tillandsia achyrostachys É.Morren ex Baker is a stemless species that reaches 40 cm in height when it produces a flower stalk. Its leaves grow in an erect rosette formation. Leaf bases are oblong-ovate, 4–6 cm long, 2–3 cm wide, and covered in gray scales. Full leaves are erect, with slight curvature at the tip; they are narrow lanceolate in shape, measuring 20 cm long and 2 cm wide above the base. The flower stalk is upright, leafless, 15 cm long, and 3 to 5 mm wide. The inflorescence is a simple spike, flattened on both sides, between 15 and 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. Bracts (cover leaves) are densely arranged, oval, pointed, 4 cm long, 2 cm wide, and membranous; they can be ashy gray, red, or greenish red. The flowers are erect, 4–6 cm long, and green, with protruding anthers. Petals form a narrow tube 4 cm long. Sepals (cup leaves) are lanceolate, elongated, and pointed. In its flowering state, it resembles a small specimen of T. califann. This species is distributed in Mexico, where it grows at elevations up to 2000 m.
