Origin and Habitat: Argentina and Bolivia
Altitude: Around 1200 metres above sea level.
Habitat: It is a species that grows on steep rocks, where it has to endure periods of both dry and rainy weather.

• Tillandsia australis Mez

• Tillandsia australis Mez
• Tillandsia maxima var. densior L.B.Sm.
• Tillandsia maxima Lillo & Hauman

Description: Tillandsia australisSN|28148]]SN|28147]] is a huge saxicolous (clinging on rocks) or occasionally epiphyte monocarpic bromeliad with a spectacular pending spike. This species has long been known as Tillandsia maximaSN|28147]]SN|28148]], but this name proved to be invalid as it was already in use for an obscure bromeliad from Central America.
Rosette: Star-shaped up to 1,6 metres in diameter. The foliage of the rosette overlaps basally to forms a reservoir (phytotelma), in which rainfall and leaf litter can accumulate, allowing the plant to draw upon their water reservoir during periods of drought.
Leaves: Up to 80 cm (or more) long; Sheaths ample, up to 30 cm long, covered on both sides with fine appressed brown scales; Blades ligulate, subrounded and apiculate, 6-12 cm wide, thin-coriaceous, subglabrous.
Flower stalk (scape): Stout, erect and then pending. Scape-bracts densely imbricate, foliaceous.
Inflorescence: 80-240 cm long, dark-red or purple, amply 2 times branched, very variable, glabrous; Primary bracts like the peduncle-bracts, large and conspicuous; Branches suberect, to 40 cm long, the basal third sterile, then bearing 1-7 spikes; Secondary bracts much reduced, ovate, acute; Spikes lanceolate to linear, 11-30 cm long, sublaxly to subdensely 8-22-flowered, strongly complanate. Floral bracts suberect but relatively narrow and more or less exposing the rhachis, broadly elliptic, subobtuse, 22-40 mm long, equaling or slightly exceeding the sepals and apparently fleshy, becoming coarsely rugose when dry, ecarinate, not incurved;
Flowers: Suberect. Sepals free, subobtuse, 22-40 mm long, submembranous, strongly nerved, the adaxial carinate. Petals violet. Stamens included.

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) Forest & Kim Starr “Tillandsia australis (Air plant)”. Plants of Hawaii. <http://www.starrenvironmental.com>. Downloaded on 20 August 2014.
3) Wikipedia contributors. "Tillandsia australis." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Jul. 2014. Web. 18 Sep. 2014.
3) Smith, L.B. & Downs, R.J. "Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae)" In: Flora Neotropica 14(2) 1977

Cultivation and Propagation: Tillandsia australisSN|28147]]SN|28147]] is a large bromelid of remarkable ornamental value due to its very informal foliage and the showy long pending inflorescence which lasts for some months. This plant can be grown as both epiphytic, but mainly also as terrestrial, it is very durable and seems to thrive without a great deal of care.
Growing substrate: This bromeliad is typically grown in the ground or in containers filled with very aerated, porous, draining, moisture-retentive and rich of organic substance substrata, but it can also been grown epiphytically and roots are covered with moss or coarse crushed tree fern fibre encased in a container or wired to the surfaces of strong boulders, rough bark, rock walls, or tree branches.
Exposition: Grow it in bright filtered light both indoors and out. In the garden it grow best where it will get morning sun, but will also grows equally well in direct mid-day sun in hot summer climates. In apartment, it is to be preferably placed in a very luminous position. Low light often diminishes the inflorescence colours.
Watering: It enjoys constant moisture from rain or sprinkler and with high local humidity. In summer the plants grow best with high humidity. In dry and hot climate, humidity can be increased with nebulisations utilizing water at room temperature and not calcareous. In summer, some distilled water can be left in the central cavity formed by the rosette of leaves, renewing it frequently to avoid the formation of a mosquito larvae nest, whilst in winter it is better to leave it dry, thus avoiding possible rottenness. Keep humidity up by misting. Requires complete and perfect drainage. If you have one that is not flowering then keep very warm in the spring and water sparingly. To remove excess salt build-up, leach bromeliad pot once during the summer.
Feeding: Apply a very weak liquid feed every month or so over the growing season and a mild solutions (one-quartet strength) of foliar fertilizer at 3-month intervals to both garden and container plants. Apply fertilizer to leaves, roots, and reservoir.
Hardiness:
Tip: Remove old leaves from plant base and dead flower spikes only. Remove older plant crown when it begins to fade.
Use: The plant can be cultivated as a house plant or patio container filler.
Propagation: Division. When the flower fades, pups appear from axillary gemmae between the leaves near the base of the plants. The offsets can be detached and repotted when they have reached the dimension of one third of the mother plant. Be sure to provide high humidity for a month after propagating the offsets. It may also be grown from seed: remove seeds from inflorescence and lay them uncovered on a bed of crushed tree fern fibres; keep constantly but moderately moist. Starting from the seed, 5-6 years are needed for the blossoming, whilst at least 3 years are needed by division.