Tillandsia albertiana was named for the Argentine botanist Alberto Castellanos, by an admiring student who discovered the species.

Tillandsia albertiana is a small plant, with an adult usually averaging 5-8 cm. in height and width. It generally produces a large, single root. The plant offsets prolifically so if the grower groups three or four of them they may develop into a sizeable clump in two or three years.

My partner, Jerry Robinson, and I made the locating of this plant a top priority when on a trip to Argentina in 1982. We hired a pickup truck and driver and went off to find it. As we ascended the Andes, the road became eroded in places by swollen streams and troughs of mud. Determined to continue, we were slowly able to forge ahead until at last the road turned into a sandy cow trail and went steeply downhill for a long distance. We were 20 kilometers short of our goal and we were stuck.

As our contingent happened to be on private property, a 75,000-acre estancia to be exact, we decided to ask the administrator of the ranch if we could rent horses and perhaps a gaucho to help us the rest of the way. Well, Dame Fortune certainly smiled on us that day! The administrator - one Guillermo Smith, son of Scottish immigrants - welcomed us with open arms. He sent the chauffer packing and invited us to stay with him for a few days. Guillermo spoke a perfect Scot's English and was an entertaining and gracious host.

 

The estancia was paradise! The experience of heading back into the pristine, uninhabited mountains, so abundant with wild animals, birds, trees, flowers, and grasses, was a rare thrill. What a great reward for all the times when exploring and collecting has been frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes dangerous work.

Like Tillandsia argentina, Tillandsia albertiana grows in areas somewhat shaded from all day sun. Moderate patio conditions provide the perfect environment for this delightful little plant. $2.00