Tillandsia

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tillandsia

  • Description

    Genus Description - Small to large epiphytic or seldom terrestrial herbs; stems short to elongate. Leaves fascicled in a rosette, or in a spiral along the stem, with entire margins, pubescence of peltate scales. Scapes usually well developed; inflorescence usually a simple distichous flowered spike, or less often reduced to a single spike or to a single flower; bracts conspicuous to minute. Flowers bisexual, shortpedicellate; sepals free or connate, convolute; petals free, without appendages; stamens 6, included to exserted; ovary superior, with numerous caudate ovules. Fruit a septicidal capsule; seeds many, erect, cylindric to fusiform, with a basal tuft of white, straight hairs.

    Distribution and Ecology - A genus of 400-500 species occurring from southern United States to South America, including the West Indies.