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1 Leaves distichous (2-ranked); inflorescence 1-2 (-3) flowered; [subgenus Diaphoranthema]. |
2 Plants in dense, more or less spherical clusters; inflorescence scapose, exserted from the cluster, of (1-) 2 (-3) flowers; corolla violet |
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1 Leaves arranged in a close spiral; inflorescence (3-) many-flowered; [subgenus Tillandsia]. |
3 Leaves narrowly linear, 1-5 mm wide (-10 mm wide in T. floridana) when measured at mid-length. |
4 Leaf sheaths conspicuously inflated at the base, 1.5-3.5 cm wide at base, the plant pseudobulbous; scapes < 15 cm long. |
5 Scapes 7-17 cm long; [s. TX] |
5 Scapes < 6 cm long; [FL peninsula]. |
6 Inflorescence linear to narrowly elliptic in outline; base of floral bracts visible at anthesis |
6 Inflorescence broadly elliptic in outline; base of floral bracts not visible at anthesis |
4 Leaf sheaths slightly or not at all inflated, the plant not pseudobulbous; scapes 8-39 cm long. |
7 Leaf sheaths narrowly elliptic, slightly inflated, 1.2-2.0 cm wide |
7 Leaf sheaths broadly elliptic to triangular, flat, 0.8-2.5 cm wide. |
8 Leaves finely lepidote, appearing green or reddish; floral bracts green or reddish, uniformly lepidote; corolla lavender |
8 Leaves densely and coarsely lepidote, appearing gray; floral bracts rose or red, becoming merely sparsely lepidote toward base; corolla violet. |
9 Leaves 15-30, not over 0.5 cm wide at mid-length; inflorescence simple or 1- pinnate, with 1-5 branches |
9 Leaves 20-50, 0.5-1.0 cm wide at mid-length; inflorescence 1-2- pinnate, with 2-10 branches |
3 Leaves broader, 6-35 mm wide when measured at mid-length. |
10 Leaf sheaths conspicuously inflated, the plant pseudobulbous (narrowed to a 'waist' upwards, above the base thickened by the inflated leaf sheaths). |
11 Leaf blades and scape bracts twisted, reflexed |
11 Leaf blades and scape bracts erect to spreading |
10 Leaf sheaths flat or slightly and broadly channeled, the plant not pseudobulbous ( cylindrical or broadened-flaring upwards). |
12 Floral bracts spreading and/or small, exposing most of the rachis at anthesis. |
13 Leaves 10-20, spirally twisted, cross- banded green and silver; corolla pink |
13 Leaves 20-75, not twisted, unicolored; corolla cream |
12 Floral bracts imbricate, broad, covering all or most of the rachis (the rachis not visible at anthesis). |
14 Leaves soft and brittle; inflorescence simple or with 1-3 branches; floral bracts 0.6-0.9 cm wide |
14 Leaves tough and leathery; inflorescence palmately to pinnately branched, with 3-15 branches; floral bracts 1.2-2.0 cm wide. |
15 Fertile spikes of inflorescence > 10 cm long; floral bracts often 3.0-4.8 cm long |
15 Fertile spikes of inflorescence < 10 cm long; floral bracts 2-3 cm long. |
16 Spikes of inflorescence with elongate slender sterile bases covered with sterile bracts |
16 Spikes of inflorescence with short or absent sterile bases |