Leaves distichous, 10-30 cm long, densely tomentose scaled; sheaths hairless; blades spreading, involute-subulate, 2-5 mm wide. Scape erect, slender, 5-15 cm long, sometimes with one leaf-like bract. Inflorescence simple, distichous, 1-4 cm long, densely 2-6 flowered; floral bracts equalling the sepals, densely tomentose scaled; sepals scaled; petals to 2 cm long, orbicular, spreading, 6-8 mm wide, bright yellow, scented; stamens included.
Bolivia to southern Brazil and Uruguay.
T. caliginosa Till from Argentina and Bolivia grows to 20-40 cm high, much branched. Leaves distichous; sheath to 2 cm long, hairless; blade 12-18 cm long, heavily grey-scaled, linear-subulate, soft. Scape very thin, 10-15 cm long. Inflorescence simple, distichous, 2-4 flowered; floral bracts to 2 cm long, about equalling the sepals, brownish-green, densely scaled; sepals scaled; petals very small, dark brown or if brownish-yellow then spotted; flowers scented; stamens included.
Source: (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.