A New Species of Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae)
from the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile

The following abstract and supplimental notes are adapted from the following publication:

Dillon, Michael O. 1991. A new species of Bromeliaceae, Tillandsia tragophoba, is described from the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. Brittonia 43(1): 11-16.

[A new species of Bromeliaceae, Tillandsia tragophoba, is described from the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The leaves of this new species are green, essentially glabrous and form a basal tank capable of holding water, quite unlike the typical gray-leaved, terrestrial or lithophytic bromeliads usually found within the coastal desert province of western South America. A description and illustration are provided, and its relationships discussed.]

Type: Chile. Antofagasta (Región II), Prov. Antofagasta, Quebrada Rinconada, ca. 5 km N of Caleta Paposo, (24°56'S, 70°30"W), 240-440 m alt., 4 Nov 1988, M. O. Dillon & D. Dillon 5869 (Holotype: SGO; isotypes: F, SEL, SSUC, US).


Tillandsia tragaphoba Dillon

Habitat in Northern Chile
near Paposo

Close-up of inflorescence

Illustration based upon
Dillon & Dillon 5869 (F)


Map indicating Paposo locality.


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