Tillandsia ionantha 'Druid'

The long gap between posts is due to the fact that I found it difficult to get sufficient information about the Tillandsia ionantha 'Druid'. Laziness is never a valid excuse. Preparing for this post was like preparing for a case with very limited jurisprudence. 

Tillandsia ionantha 'Druid'. Photography by Nicky Yee. Used with permission.This is a cultivar of T. ionantha.  For those of you not familiar with this species, I have an earlier post about the T. ionantha.  If you read it, I think you will see immediately what sets this cultivar apart.  Come on, take a quick peek and see if you can guess the difference before reading on. It's just like playing spot the difference.

Available for purchase from the International Society for Horticultural ScienceYou all know about my thing with plant names, right?  According to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants,  this is Tillandsia 'Druid' or T. 'Druid'.  Referring to it as Tillandsia ionantha 'Druid' is apparently wrong, however, this is how it is generally referred to.

Around 1970, Drew Schulz of Florida collected several Tillandsia ionantha from a place near Veracruz, Mexico.  The following year, Mr. Schulz discovered that six of the plants he had collected were unique.  These cultivars were then given the name 'Druid' to imbue them with an aura of mystery while incorporating the collector's first name, Drew.

Have you figured out the difference between the 'Druid' and the other T. ionantha's?  

• The leaves blush yellow/peach instead of red.  An example of the peach blush can be found here.
• Its flowers are white instead of purple

Nari-nari's website says that it is an albino form of the ionantha in that it genetically lacks red pigment.

I've also come across a Chinese/Taiwanese forum where one poster suggests that there are two forms of 'Druid'.  One is the Mexican form and the other is the Guatemalan form.  Based on the poster's observations, the Mexican 'Druid' blushes peach before blooming and that the Guatemalan 'Druid' blushes yellow and has longer, thinner leaves.  I have to mention though that I did not find any scientific publication mentioning the discovery of the supposed Guatemalan 'Druid'.

It is easy to cultivate because the plant pups profusely.  A nice clump can form from a single plant in just a few years.  My Druids get at least four hours of direct morning sun.  I water them every other day.

The plant looks wonderful as well when grown in a clump.  In this case, however, one should ensure that there is more than sufficient air circulation to prevent root rot.

The flowers have a relatively short life span of about 2 days, some 3 at the most.  I had wanted to take better pictures with a black background but most of the flowers were already wilting the next day.  The plus side is that as with most tillandsias, I will soon have pups.  I am not sure though if it has a specific flowering season because my other Druids have not shown any sign of flowering soon.  Why this particular clump has already bloomed is a mystery to me.

Comments

[mr_subjunctive]

Very interesting. I saw some of these at the ex-job a few months ago, but of course they didn't have an ID for them.

I'm wondering if this means that the red pigment in the leaves is the same chemical that makes the blue pigment in the flowers: delphinidin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphinidin) can change color from blue to red depending on the pH of the cell it's in, and many plants use either delphinidin or a closely-related molecule to color their flowers and/or fruits. (examples: viola, petunia, peony, rose, morning glory) If it is the same molecule in both parts of the plant, then it means a single mutation could have caused both the blonde leaves and the white flowers at once. Which I find interesting.

[The Plant Chaser]

Thanks for your comment. Your single mutation theory makes a very good point.

I have hardly any botany background so I did try to research early on why some leaves blush right before blooming. Does the color change occur because the plant's energy and nutrients go into blooming? Anthocyanin? Delphinidin?

All I could find was that the colors or fragrance produced by each species was dependent on its specific pollinators and anthesis. Since the 'Druid' is just the same species as ionantha, shouldn't it have the same ones?

Sorry I can't shed more light on the subject. I'm just a lawyer who likes plants. ;-D

[Andrea]

The beautiful photos and the unique plant suffice for your long absence. I am sure your post will elicit some intellectual questions on this plant, and it already show with Mr S comments above. I wonder if DNA analysis will solve both yours and his questions. I read 3x his comments, but I am not that deep in my knowledge with pigments, yet i am interested with your research results from written references. I am now thinking, 'maybe it is named delphinidin because it was first isolated from Delphinium sp"

[The Plant Chaser]

@ Andrea: The issue seems a bit technical. I did not read anything about pigments and tillandsias. I only read about the pollinators and anthesis in both Tillandsia books of Paul T. Isley. Do you have any theories? You have a better background for this than I do.

I now have Delphinidin added to my list of things to check on. :-D

[Solitude Rising]

I thought the long gap between your current and previous posts is because you had to climb mountains and swam to the bottom of the sea just to gather info for your next post :)

I find the color transformation of the T. ionantha when it starts to bloom to be more dramatic. But then, we all want variety.

[Rosey Pollen]

I remember giving one of these once to my Father as a gift.
It is a remarkable plant and looks very unique!
Thanks for your comment on my blog. : )

[The Plant Chaser]

@ SR: How I wish your theory was correct.

The T. ionantha huamelula is the most dramatic, I think, but yes, we all want variety and the occasional pale ionantha bloom becomes a feast for the eyes.


@ Rosey: Are they still alive? They must have turned into one gorgeous clump by now.

[Stephanie]

Bom, I admire your passion in finding out the plant ID and background. Oh that tilly flowers are really precious! They have unique colours :-D I have been growing a tilly for about a year. It has not flower yet. I wonder how long it takes for yours to flower. You really have great patience!

[p3chandan]

Although Im not into these species of plant probably because of their spiky leaves, a bit like cactus, which Im also not fond of.Your photographs showed what an interesting specimen they are especially the first and third photos.

[dona]

Sincere congratulations, dear Bom: you are always accurate, reliable, honest. The good thing is that you have also a lot of sense of humor! :D
Amazing photos, as usual.