Monographs Details – French Guianan E-Flora Project

Monographs Details:

Authority:

Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (2): 663-1492. (Published by NYBG Press)

Family:

Bromeliaceae

Scientific Name:

Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.

Synonyms:

Renealmia usneoides L., Fucus filum L., Tillandsia trichoides Kunth, Tillandsia filiformis Lodd., Ortiz-Cat. & Schult.f., Tillandsia pendula Thunb. ex G.Gaertn., Dendropogon usneoides Raf., Strepsia usneoides (L.) Steud. ex Nutt., Tillandsia crinita Willd. ex Beer, Tillandsia usneoides f. genuina André, Tillandsia usneoides f. longissima André, Tillandsia usneoides f. filiformis André, Tillandsia usneoides f. major André, Tillandsia usneoides f. ferruginea André, Tillandsia usneoides f. crispa André, Tillandsia usneoides f. cretacea Mez in Mart., Tillandsia usneoides f. robusta Mez ex E.Morren in Mart., Tillandsia usneoides var. filiformis (André) Mez, Tillandsia usneoides var. ferruginea (André) Mez, Tillandsia usneoides var. longissima (André) Mez, Tillandsia usneoides var. robusta (Mez) Mez, Tillandsia usneoides var. cretacea (Mez) DC.

Description:

Description - Plant growing pendent from trees in branching strands up to 8 m long, varying somewhat in indument and dimensions of stem and leaf but reliable subspecific classification impossible without careful study of living material; roots soon absent; stem sympodial, less than 1 mm in diameter, the internodes 3-6 cm long with only the extreme base covered by the leaf-sheath, strongly curved; pseudo-axillary branches, actually a continuation of the main axis, very short and concealed by the basal leaf-sheath, bearing 2-3 leaves. Leaves distichous-ranked, 25-50 mm long, densely cinereous-lepidote or ferruginous-lepidote; sheaths elliptic, involute, to 8 mm long; blades filiform, less than 1 mm in diameter. Scape practically none. Inflorescence reduced to a single pseudo-lateral flower. Floral bract ovate, apiculate or caudate, densely lepidote, shorter than the sepals; flower subsessile. Sepals narrowly ovate, acute, to 7 mm long, thin, strongly nerved, glabrous, equally short-connate; petals narrow, acute or obtuse, 9-11 mm long, pale green or blue; stamens deeply included, exceeding the pistil. Capsule to 25 mm long, cylindric, abruptly short-beaked.