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Bromeliad Cultivar Register

<TILLANDSIA (1681)

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z.

Bromeliad Cultivar Register (13587) 2016-07-09

TILLANDSIA ‘Munro's Filiformis’ Van der Meer M* ?

A form of Tillandsia usneoides with very fine, smooth leaves with few trichomes, giving the plant a distinct green appearance. When grown in full sun, some leaves turn reddish-brown to almost black. It is currently being sold both in the US and Europe under a variety of names and descriptions like El Finito, Silver Ghost, Fine Form, Green Form, Grün Fein, Forme Verte, etc. According to Rainforest Flora, El Finito /Silver Ghost is native to Paraguay. Comparing this T. ' Munro's Filiformis' to the various forms and varieties described in the 19th century. It seems to match both the description and a picture of the type specimen of T. usneoides f. filiformis André 1889 (“very fine, almost hairlike leaves” [“feuilles très fines, presque capillaires”]), although André does not mention a distinct coloration. He does describe T. usneoides f. ferruginea André 1889 as having “rusty, blackish leaves” (“feuilles […] ferrugineuses, noirâtres”), but these are “compact, short” (“serrées, courtes”). This form is at one of the extremes of the T. usneoides complex. The thick and coarse form at the other extreme has been registered as T. ‘Maurice’s Robusta’, so it makes sense to give this fine form a cultivar name also. Named after the registrant's daughter. Reg. Doc. 6/2016 by Maarten van der Meer.
Country of origin: Paraguay

Seed Parent: usneoides