Tillandsia areiensis J.M.P.Cordeiro, E.M.Almeida & L.P.Felix sp. nov. (Fig. 1).

Type: — BRAZIL. Paraíba: Areia, Mata do Padre, 565 m, 06°58′01″S, 35°41′01″W, 09 April 2024 (fl.), Cordeiro & Felix 1638 (holotype: EAN!; isotypes: IPA!, UFP!, JPB!).

Diagnosis: — Tillandsia areiensis is similar to Tillandsia tenuifolia, but can be distinguished from it by its shorter peduncle (1.7–2.6 cm long vs. 5–7.5 cm), which is exceeded by the leaves or rarely exceeded them, erect, and densely arranged green floral bracts that completely cover the inflorescence axis. Tillandsia tenuifolia has an elongated peduncle exceeding the leaves, and pink and inclined floral bracts arranged more sparsely and partially covering the inflorescence axis (Fig. 2A–D).

Description: —Plant epiphytic, caulescent, forming clumps, 12.2–16.4 cm long., 10.0– 15.3 cm in diameter; curved stems, 0.5–0.7 cm in diameter. Leaves 7.5–9.0 cm long, 58–72 in number, suberect to curved; sheath elliptical to orbicular, slightly distinct from the blade, 0.8–1.1 × 0.6–0.8 cm, pale-green, lepidote; blade 7.1–9.2 × 0.5–0.8 cm, narrowly triangular, rigid, succulent, suberect to curved, involute, lepidote on both sides in the lower third, becoming glabrescent towards the apex on the adaxial side, and partially lepidote on the abaxial side, greenish on both surfaces, entire margin, acute apex. Peduncle erect, subsessile, 1.7–2.6 cm in length, 0.4–0.5 cm in diameter, exceeded by the leaves or rarely exceeded them; peduncle bracts 6–8 in number, imbricate, foliaceous to caudate, 3.6–6.4 × 0.6–0.8 cm, acuminate apex, whitish at the base, greenish towards the apex. Inflorescence (fertile portion) a simple spike, 4.3–4.8 × 0.9–1.3 cm, 8–12 flowers, horizontally or ascending oriented; axis slender, terete, glabrous, covered by floral bracts. Floral bracts elliptical, 1.7–2.1 × 0.6–0.8 cm, greenish, exceeding the sepals, entire margins, apex acute to obtuse, glabrous on both sides. Flowers sessile, polystichously arranged, 1.7–2.2 cm long; sepals elliptical, 1.1–1.4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, white-greenish at the base, whitish towards the apex, glabrous, acute apex; petals erect, spathulate, free, 1.4–1.6 × 0.1–0.3 cm, white, glabrous, apex acute to rounded. Stamens included, 0.8–1.3 cm long; filaments whitish, flattened, flaccid, sublinear, free; anthers yellowish, 0.8–1.0 × 0.3–0.4 mm, basifixed. Pistil equaling the stamens, yellowish; ovary yellowish, ovoid, 2.0–2.2 × 0.8–1.1 mm; style erect, whitish, 0.6–0.8 cm × 0.3–0.4 mm; stigma simple-erect. Capsules cylindrical, 1.9–2.7 × 0.3–0.4 cm, olive green. Seeds fusiform, plumose, 1.4–1.7 cm long (including plumes), 0.1–0.2 mm in diameter.

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to the Areia municipality (Paraíba, Brazil) where the type material was collected.

Distribution and habitat: — Tillandsia areiensis is endemic to the highland humid enclaves (Brejos de Altitude), a region characterized by wet forest associated with the Atlantic rainforest, surrounded by Caatinga vegetation (Tabarelli & Santos 2004). The species has been recorded in the municipalities of Areia and Natuba, Paraíba (Fig. 3). It occurs at elevations between 450 and 600m, within semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest vegetation. Populations can be found in the interior and edges of forests and open areas exposed to sunlight, with 5–20 individuals of different developmental stages sparsely scattered.

Phenology: —The species flowers between April and May, with fruiting occurring from June to September, during the rainy season.

Conservation status: — Tillandsia areiensis is endemic to the highland humid enclaves, one of the most threatened regions of the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil. Populations have been found in three locations: Mata do Padre and Mata do Pau Ferro (Areia municipality) and Natuba municipality, Paraíba state, Brazil. Although Mata do Pau Ferro is a protected State Park, illegal collection of plants such as orchids and bromeliads, alongside other anthropogenic activities, have been reported (Cordeiro et al. 2020). The restricted geographic distribution of the species and the fragmentation of the highland humid enclaves in Northeastern Brazil contribute to its classification as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List criteria and categories (IUCN 2024a).

Other specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Paraíba: Areia, Mata do Padre, 27 Apr 2018, fl., Cordeiro & Almeida 1395 (EAN!); Areia, Mata do Pau Ferro, 26 Jun 2024, fr., Cordeiro 1649 (EAN!); Areia, Mata do Pau Ferro, 15 Jun 2017, fr., Gadelha Neto 4162 (JPB!); Areia, Mata do Pau Ferro, 19 May 2017, fl., Figueira et al. 604 (JPB!); Natuba, distrito de Fervedouro, 15 May 2005, fl., Pontes 262 (JPB!).

Cytogenetic:— Tillandsia areiensis has a chromosome number of 2 n = 50, consistent with the predominant count reported for the genus Tillandsia (Gitaí et al. 2014, Rice et al. 2015). The karyotype exhibits discrete CMA / DAPI bands, with two small terminal CMA + bands and 10–12 chromosomes with neutral pericentromeric bands (CMA 0 or DAPI 0) (Figure 3E). Tillandsia tenuifolia, similarly, exhibits 2 n = 50 and two small terminal CMA + bands. However, the neutral pericentromeric bands (CMA 0 or DAPI 0) are more easily visible, covering 18–20 chromosomes (Figure 3F).

Taxonomic notes:— The morphological traits of Tillandsia areiensis place it within Tillandsia subg. Anoplophytum. Tillandsia areiensis can be identified by its short peduncle, exceeded by the leaves, greenish floral bracts, erect, and densely arranged, completely covering the inflorescence axis. Tillandsia milagrensis Leme (1993: 243), endemic to the state of Bahia, Brazil, can be distinguished by large size (20–50cm), densely cinereous lepidote leaves, and longer scape which exceeds the leaves. Tillandsia araujei Mez (1984: 600), endemic species to the Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, differs by its large size (20–40cm), shorter leaves (3–7cm), and peduncle exceeding the leaves (Table 1). Among the species of the subg. Anoplophytum that occur in Paraíba state (Pontes & Agra 2006, Pontes 2012), Tillandsia tenuifolia differs by having a longer peduncle, exceeding the leaves, with pink floral bracts sparsely arranged, covering only part of the inflorescence axis; Tillandsia paraibensis Pontes (2012: 551) is distinguished by its rupicolous habit, densely lepidote leaves, and pink floral bracts. Tillandsia gardneri Lindley (1842: t. 63) can be distinguished by its densely lepidote leaves, and pink flowers; Tillandsia stricta Sol. ex Ker Gawler (1813: 1529) exhibit pink floral bracts and purple flowers; Tillandsia globosa Wawra (1880: 222) exhibits filiform leaves, lepidote pink floral bracts, and pink to purple petals. Additionally, we present here a key for identifying Tillandsia, subg. Anoplophytum, found in the state of Paraíba, based on morphological characters, which can serve as a guide for identifications and taxonomic studies.