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Family:

Bromeliaceae (Magnoliophyta)

Primary Citation:

Sp. Pl. (ed. 2) 1: 411. 1762

Accepted Name:

This name is currently accepted.

Common Names:

Spanish moss, Spanish moss, Heno, barba de viejo

Description:

Author : Juan Francisco Morales, Xavier Cornejo & Reinaldo Aguilar.

Description: Epiphytic herbs, pendulous from trees in branching strands of several meters long. Stem sympodial, less than 1 mm diam., the internodes 3-6 cm long with only extreme base covered by leaf-sheath, strongly curved; pseudo-axillary branches actually a continuation of main axis, very short and concealed by basal leaf-sheath, bearing 2-3 leaves. Leaves distichous-ranked, 25-50 mm long, densely cinereous-lepidote or ferrugineous-lepidote; blades filiform. Scapes practically absent, inflorescences reduced to single pseudo-lateral flowers. Floral bracts ovate, shorter than sepals, densely lepidote, the apex apiculate or caudate. Flowers sessile; sepals narrowly ovate, 7-9 mm long, strongly nerved, the apex acute; petals narrow, 9-11 mm long, pale green or blue; stamens deeply included. Fruits capsules, ca. 20-25 mm long. Seeds with white coma (fide Smith & Downs, 1977).

Common names: Barba (Spanish), barba de palo (Spanish), barba de viejo (Spanish), spanish beard (English), spanish moss (English).

Distribution: Southeastern United States (Florida) and Mexico to northern Chile, Argentina and the West Indies from sea level to ca. 3500 m (Smith & Downs, 1977).

Ecology: In dry, moist and wet forests, persistent in very disturbed habitats (Cornejo, pers. obs. 1993-2000).

Phenology: This species has been observed with fruits throughout the year.

Pollination: No observations recorded.

Dispersal: Wind dispersed.

Taxonomic notes: This species is recognized by the filiform grayish leaves and the very elongated wiry stems that form masses. It is often mistaken as a lichen or a moss.

Conservation: Not endangered.

Uses: Tillandsia usneoides is used as an ornamental. In many Latinamerican countries it is often used as a Christmas decoration.

Etymology: The lichen epithet usneoides (the fake Usnea) refers to the resemblance of this species with lichens of the genus Usnea (Parmeliaceae).

Flora and Monograph Treatment(s):

Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.: [Article] Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (2): 663-1492.
Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.: [Book] Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.: [Article] Smith, Lyman B. 1957. The Bromeliaceae of Colombia. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 33: i-v, 1-311.
Tillandsia usneoides (L.) L.: [Article] Smith, Lyman B. & Schubert, Bernice G. 1952. Plants collected in Ecuador by W. H. Camp. Begoniaceae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 8 (1): 36-40.