Puya coerulea var. coeruleasilver puya. In Chile, its home, silver puya grows in low valleys away from the immediate coast in a climate similar to that of California. Extremely drought-tolerant. The plant photographed grows in a private garden in Berkeley, CA.
Also known as Tillandsia turneri. Reported from Venezuela and adjacent Colombia. Photo from Cerro Kennedy, Santa Marta Range, northeastern Colombia. In context at www.dixpix.ca/meso_america/Flora/bromeliads/index.html