Tillandsia tenuifolia, also known as the narrowleaf airplant, is a common epiphyte found throughout the Caribbean islands and tropical South America. The leaves are quite sturdy and develop a gentle curve as they grow larger.
There are a huge number of cultivars and hybrids of T. tenuifolia, from miniature versions that flower frequently to huge monsters that dwarf other air plants. A variety called "Amethyst" has dark purple leaves.
This extremely detailed illustration was created by the Scottish artist Walter Hood Fitch and published in an 1861 volume of Curtis's Botanical Register.
