Introduction

When Vriesea kentii (Luther & Norton 2010) was published it was placed in the genus Vriesea because of its petal appendages and Harry Luther did not accept the transfer to Tillandsia proposed by Jason Grant (Grant 1993). However, its characteristics are typical of Tillandsia subg. Pseudovriesea, being Tillandsia misplaced in Vriesea (Grant 1993). Like all Tillandsia subg. Pseudovriesea which usually are bearing basal petal appendages (Barfuss et al. 2016), this beautiful Tillandsia species is bearing two ligules at the base of the petals. It is closely related to Tillandsia pereziana and T pereziana var. canescens but can be easily distinguished by the size of the pendent inflorescence, which in T kentii is 5070 cm long with 15-25 lateral spikes while in Tpereziana it is 20-30 cm long with sub-digitate spikes. T. pereziana var. canescens is the variety with silvery leaves and floral bracts with more scales than those in T. pereziana var. pereziana (Andre 1889).

This taxon was said to have been found in the Central Andes of Ecuador (Andre 1888) which is in the province of Chimborazo, but in the original label of the type the place is located in "Quebrada de las Juntas". In Ecuador the only such Quebrada is in the province of Carchi, close to the border with Colombia. Smith & Downs (1977) mention "The only "Las Juntas" found...