About Tillandsia ionantha Planch.
Tillandsia ionantha Planch. is typically stemless, sometimes growing with a short stem, and reaches 6 to 8 centimeters in height. Its leaves measure 4 to 9 centimeters long; the leaf sheaths are 0.6 to 1 centimeter wide, densely covered in spreading fuzzy texture. The leaf blades are narrow triangular, 0.3 to 0.4 centimeters wide, and have a dense scaly indumentum. It has foliaceous bracts, and a compound inflorescence that appears simple because each spike is reduced to only one flower. The inflorescence holds 1 to 3 flowers, and the primary foliaceous bracts are much longer than the spikes. Floral bracts are 3 centimeters long, longer than the sepals, and cover the sepals during anthesis; they are not keeled, have inconspicuous veins, are glabrous and membranous. Flowers are sessile. Sepals are 2 centimeters long and free; the posterior sepals are keeled, while the anterior sepals are not keeled. Petals are purple. Capsules range from 2.5 to 4.5 centimeters long.
