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April 1, 2009 : Tillandsia lindenii
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Plant Family / Families: Bromeliaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Tillandsia lindenii Regel
Institution: Montréal Botanical Garden
Name Location: Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Here's a photograph from my trip to the glasshouses at Montréal Botanical Garden in late January. Tillandsia lindenii, or blue-flowered torch, was planted / placed in numbers throughout the tropical rainforests conservatory. Native to Ecuador and Peru, the epiphytic Tillandsia lindenii can be found growing on tree trunks, tree hollows and even rocks & sandy soils in its native rainforest habitat.
Tillandsia lindenii is considered to have a "paddle-shaped inflorescence" by bromeliad collectors (source: Tillandsias with Paddle-shaped Inflorescences). The paddles are composed of dense, flattened pink bracts from which the large, bluish flowers emerge. A closely related species, Tillandsia cyanea, differs somewhat, including that its flowers are (usually) not white-throated and the paddles are differently-shaped (for more, read the article on Tillandsia cyanea and her Big Sister -- Tillandsia lindenii (PDF)).
The epithet lindenii, I believe (haven't been able to track down a reference), commemorates the Belgian botanist and explorer Jean Jules Linden.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at April 1, 2009 4:00 PM
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Posted by: SandyinZ4 at April 1, 2009 5:55 PM
I second the thoughts of the previous poster! Many thanks for this site, it's a daily joy.
Posted by: Annie Morgan at April 1, 2009 6:20 PM
Daniel - just in case you hadn't checked this source Stearns agrees with you re the epithet lindenii - that is to comemorate J.J. Linden (1817-1898), a Luxembourg botanical explorer to SOUTH AMERICA - makes sense to me....thanks for all you do
Posted by: Quin at April 1, 2009 7:34 PM
What a beautiful creation! And just in time for Easter! I want a picture of that plant hanging in my room!
Posted by: SoapySophia at April 1, 2009 7:36 PM
Tillandsia is a nice name for a pretty unique flower. I had a feeling it's from the Bromeliad family. Lovely photo.
Posted by: Cambree at April 1, 2009 9:26 PM
This site is amazing to all plant-a-holics!!!!
Daniel, you rock, baby...
Posted by: Linda Cobb at April 2, 2009 5:10 AM
Thank you for this stunning photograph, and for the links- I find that I used to have one of these. It lived about 3 years on the windowsill over the kitchen sink, glued to a rock, and I dunked it in water whenever I remembered.
Posted by: Connie at April 2, 2009 6:17 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
Oh wow! Isn't Mother Nature wonderful. Looks quite apropriate for Easter colors. Thanks Daniel. You are a treasure too for sharing and having this site. It makes my day!