Native distribution and habitat: T. tenufolia is an epiphyte from Mexico, the West Indies and south to Bolivia and north Argentina. It is found growing in a wide range of territory, from seal level, where it is so close to the ocean it can be dampened by salt spray, and rock and thickets to an altitude of 2,700 m.
Growth habit: There are a number of varieties of this plant and all form tight clumps over time. The plant is caulescent which is often branched. The growth habit is negative geotropic.
Foliage: The thin channeled leaves are gray green and distinctly stiff and reach about 50 mm to 100 mm.
Flowers: T. tenufolia forms a short slender bright red erect scape, while the petals may be white, blue or rose. The flowers are very slightly keeled.
Seed:
Pups:
Cultivation: This is a fairly easy plant to grow. Dale W. Jenkins of the Sarasota Bromeliad Society suggests the species is hardy with survival and little or no
damage at -3 °c for several hours.
Availability: Various forms of this plant are often available.
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