tillandsia

File:Tillandsia stricta 2.jpg]]

Tillandsia are perennial herbaceous plants which exhibit a multitude of physiological and morphological differences making this a diverse genus. Having native habitats that vary from being epiphytic and saxicolous, species have certain adaptations, such as root systems designed to anchor to other plants or substrates, and modified trichomes for water and nutrient intake. Some of the species, like the majority of Bromeliaceae, grow as funnel bromeliads, with a compressed stem axis. The leaves are then close together in rosettes, and cover the lower areas of the leaves, forming a funnel for collecting water.

These leaf rosettes, a common physical characteristic in Tillandsia species, collect nutrients and water. The flowers typically involve bright, vibrant colors, with blooms or inflorescences produced on a stalk or several stalks.Steens Andrew (2003); Bromeliads for the contemporary garden , Timber Press, Portland, USA. ({{ISBN|0-88192-604-3}}) The flower's color varies greatly; red, yellow, purple and pink flowers exist in this genus, and multicolored flowers are known. The bright colors attract pollinators. An air plant's foliage may also change color when it blooms, also attracting pollinators. The hermaphrodite flowers are threefold with double perianth. The three free sepals are symmetrical and pointed. The seeds have a "parachute" similar to the dandelion.Lyman B. Smith , RJ Downs: Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). In: Flora Neotropica , vol. 14, 2, 1979, p. 665.

Common pollinators of this genus include moths, hummingbirds and, more recently recognized, bats.Aguilar-Rodríguez, P., Macswiney, C., Krömer, T., García-Franco, J., Knauer, A., Kessler, M. March 2014. First record of bat-pollination in the species-rich genus Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae). Annals of Botany. Vol. 113(6) pp. 1047–1055.

{{Main|List of Tillandsia species}}

The genus Tillandsia was named by Carl Linnaeus after the Swedish physician and botanist Elias Tillandz (originally Tillander) (1640–1693). Some common types of Tillandsia include ball moss (T. recurvata) and Spanish moss (T. usneoides). The genus contains around 650 species, where 635 are considered epiphytic. Tillandsia was traditionally divided into seven subgenera:{{cite journal|vauthors=Chew T, De Luna E, González D |year=2010 |title=Phylogenetic relationships of the pseudobulbous Tillandsia species (Bromeliaceae) inferred from cladistic analyses of ITS 2, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and ETS sequences |journal=Systematic Botany |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=86–95 |doi=10.1600/036364410790862632 |s2cid=86162509 |url=http://www.filogenetica.org/deluna_pdfs/10Tillandsia.pdf |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323081845/http://www.filogenetica.org/deluna_pdfs/10Tillandsia.pdf |archive-date=March 23, 2015 }}

• Tillandsia subg. Allardtia (A. Dietr) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Anoplophytum (Beer) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Diaphoranthema (Beer) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Phytarrhiza (Vis.) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Pseudalcantarea Mez, now raised to the genus Pseudalcantarea
• Tillandsia subg. Pseudo-catopsis Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Tillandsia

In a more recent (2016) classification, the following subgenera are recognized:{{cite journal | last1=Barfuss | first1=Michael H.J. | last2=Till | first2=Walter | last3=Leme | first3=Elton M.C. | last4=Pinzón | first4=Juan P. | last5=Manzanares | first5=José M. | last6=Halbritter | first6=Heidemarie | last7=Samuel | first7=Rosabelle | last8=Brown | first8=Gregory K. | title=Taxonomic revision of Bromeliaceae subfam. Tillandsioideae based on a multi-locus DNA sequence phylogeny and morphology | journal=Phytotaxa | publisher=Magnolia Press | volume=279 | issue=1 | date=2016-10-13 | issn=1179-3163 | doi=10.11646/phytotaxa.279.1.1 | page=1}}

• Tillandsia subg. Aerobia Mez in C.DC.
• Tillandsia subg. Anoplophytum (Beer) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Diaphoranthema (Beer) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Phytarrhiza (Vis.) Baker
• Tillandsia subg. Pseudovriesea Barfuss & W.Till
• Tillandsia L. subg. Tillandsia
• Tillandsia subg. Viridantha (Espejo) W.Till & Barfuss

Four species are protected under CITES II:{{cite web|title=Appendices I, II and III valid from 5 February 2015*|url=http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|website=CITES|access-date=23 February 2015}}

• Tillandsia harrisii
• Tillandsia kammii
• Tillandsia mauryana
• Tillandsia xerographica

File:Tillandsia xerographica (TS) 2-06882.jpg near Los Cobanos beach]]

Tillandsia have naturally been established in diverse environments such as equatorial tropical rain forests, high elevation Andes mountains, rock dwelling (saxicolous) regions, and Louisiana swamps, such as Spanish moss (T. usneoides), a species that grows atop tree limbs. However, there are also species that are lithophytic (growing in or on rocks, though this can also stretch to living on roofs or even telephone wires). Its native range is Tropical & Subtropical America.{{Cite web |title=Tillandsia L. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:328340-2 |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}

Green-leaved species of Tillandsia generally live in cool-to-humid climates, in areas of terrestrial shade or the lower levels of a forest.Rauh Werner (1970 vol.1, 1973, vol.2); Bromelien , Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart. / Bromeliads (English translation, 1979), Blandford Press. ( {{ISBN|0-7137-0845-X}} ) In contrast, almost all gray-leaved species live in precipitation-poor areas with high humidity. They prefer the full sun and can therefore be found in the upper floors of the woods, on rocks or (rarely) on the ground. Many of the gray species are epiphytes. Some species are more or less xeromorphic.Elvira Groß : Beautiful Tillandsien. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1992, {{ISBN|3-8001-6501-5}}

Species of Tillandsia photosynthesize through a process called CAM cycle, where they close their stomata during the day to prevent water loss and open them at night to fix carbon dioxide and release oxygen.{{Cite journal |last1=Groot Crego |first1=Clara |last2=Hess |first2=Jaqueline |last3=Yardeni |first3=Gil |last4=de La Harpe |first4=Marylaure |last5=Priemer |first5=Clara |last6=Beclin |first6=Francesca |last7=Saadain |first7=Sarah |last8=Cauz-Santos |first8=Luiz A |last9=Temsch |first9=Eva M |last10=Weiss-Schneeweiss |first10=Hanna |last11=Barfuss |first11=Michael H J |last12=Till |first12=Walter |last13=Weckwerth |first13=Wolfram |last14=Heyduk |first14=Karolina |last15=Lexer |first15=Christian |date=2024-04-30 |title=CAM evolution is associated with gene family expansion in an explosive bromeliad radiation |url=https://academic.oup.com/plcell/advance-article/doi/10.1093/plcell/koae130/7658667 |journal=The Plant Cell |volume=36 |issue=10 |pages=4109–4131 |language=en |doi=10.1093/plcell/koae130 |pmid=38686825 |pmc=11449062 |issn=1040-4651}}{{cite book |author=David H. Benzing |year=2008 |title=Vascular Epiphytes: General Biology and Related Biota |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521048958 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-uqLQfbXl-kC&pg=PA53}} This allows them to preserve water, necessary because they are epiphytes. They do not have a functional root system and instead absorb water in small amounts through their leaves via small structures called trichomes. Species of Tillandsia also absorb their nutrients from debris and dust in the air.{{Cite journal|last1=Benzing|first1=David H.|last2=Burt|first2=Kathleen M.|date=1970|title=Foliar Permeability Among Twenty Species of the Bromeliaceae|jstor=2483646|journal=Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club|volume=97|issue=5|pages=269–279|doi=10.2307/2483646}}

Any root system found on Tillandsia has grown to act as a fragile stabilizing scaffold to grip the surface they grow on. As soon as they have been soaked with water, the green assimilation tissue below the suction scales becomes visible again, the plant is therefore "greened". Now the plant can absorb more light. When the sun dries the plants, they turn white. Thanks to this special survival trick, plants without roots can absorb fog droplets as well as rainwater and thus cover their water needs.Klaus Labude: Tillandsien. Tetra publishing house, Bissendorf Wulften, 2002, {{ISBN|3-89745-155-7}}

More than one-third of a tropical forest's vascular plants are epiphytes which species of Tillandsia are part of. Their contribution to the environment's carrying capacity allows for terrestrial fauna like earthworms to thrive in the treetops.{{Cite book|last=Benzing|first=David|title=Air Plants : Epiphytes and Aerial Gardens|publisher=Cornell University Press|year=2012|isbn=9780801463877|location=Proquest|pages=197–198}}

Temperature is not critical, the range being from {{convert|10|to|32|C|F}}. Frost hardiness depends on the species. T. usneoides, for example, can tolerate night-time frosts down to about {{convert|-10|C|F}}. For most species, the ideal growth temperature is between {{convert|20|and|25|C|F}}, with a minimum of {{convert|10|C|F}} and a maximum of {{convert|30|C|F}}. Few are resistant to {{convert|-10|C|F}}, but some, usually from higher elevation areas, are hardy enough to withstand light and brief freezes and live outdoors year round in areas with mild winters.{{Cite journal|last1=Benzing|first1=David H.|last2=Dahle|first2=Christopher E.|date=1971|title=The Vegetative Morphology, Habitat Preference and Water Balance Mechanisms of the Bromeliad Tillandsia ionantha Planch|jstor=2423907|journal=The American Midland Naturalist|volume=85|issue=1|pages=11–21|doi=10.2307/2423907}}

File:Bathing tillandsia.jpg

File:Tillandsia argentea.jpg]]

Tillandsias, like other bromeliads, can multiply through pollination and seed formation. Since Tillandsia are not self-fertile, the pollen must come from another plant of the same species. Tillandsia, depending on the species, may take months or years to flower. After flowering, the plant forms offsets and dies.{{cite book |last=Groß |first=Elvira |title=Tillandsia for room and conservatory |date=2001 |publisher=Ulmer |isbn=3-8001-3222-2}}

Generally, the thinner-leafed varieties grow in rainy areas and the thick-leafed varieties in areas more subject to drought. Most species absorb moisture and nutrients through the leaves from rain, dew, dust, decaying leaves and insect matter, aided by structures called trichomes.{{cite book |last=Steens |first=Andrew |date=2007 |title=Bromeliads connoisseur's guide |publisher=Random House |location=London |isbn=978-1-86962-127-8}} Air plants are growing rapidly in popularity as a low maintenance household plant. Due to their minimal root system and other adaptations, they generally do not require frequent watering, no more than four times a week, allowing the plant to completely dry before watering again.{{cite book |last=Kawollek |first=Wolfgang |title=Tillandsien – species and culture |publisher=Naturbuch Verlag |date=1992 |isbn=3-89440-038-2}}

The amount of light required depends on the species; overall, air plants with silver dusting and stiff foliage will require more sunlight than air plants with softer foliage. They generally need a strong light. In summer outside, however, they prefer the light shade of a tree at the hottest hours. Plants are commonly seen mounted, placed in a terrarium, or simply placed in seashells as decorative pieces.Cuzenic Stephan & Lévêque Daniel (2005); Tillandsias and other Bromeliads, Eugen Ulmer, Paris. ({{ISBN|2-84138-245-1}}) For so-called "aerial" species (the majority of the common species in culture except Tillandsia cyanea), that is to say those whose roots are transformed into crampons without any power of absorption, watering is done by the leaves in the form of frequent sprays, or brief soaking of the plant in a container full of water.{{Cite web|url=https://www.urbanorganicyield.com/how-to-water-air-plants/|title=How To Water Air Plants The Right Way To Keep Your Air Plant Alive|last=Hayland|first=Lindsey|website=Urban Organic Yield|date=31 May 2019}} Non-calcareous water is recommended.Instructions: Care for Air Plants (Tillandsia). Wedgewood Gardens. Available from: http://www.wedgewoodgardens.com/Care_Sheet_-_Air_Plants.pdf

{{as of|2023}} there are 34 cultivars of bromeliad registered by Bromeliad Society International, from T. Bacchus to T. Yabba.{{cite web | title=BCR Bromeliad Cultivar Register> | website=BSI | date=19 February 2011 | url=https://www.bsi.org/registry/index.php?fields=&id=8337 | language=lt | access-date=11 October 2023}}

File:Epífitas en los cables de la luz eléctrica.JPG|Tillandsia recurvata and another Bromeliaceae species on electric wires near San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela

File:Blushing Bride Airplant (Tillandsia ionantha).jpg|Tillandsia ionantha with bright-coloured foliage during full bloom. Some foliage has a light, silver dusting which can be easily scratched off

File:T ionantha bloom.jpg|Tillandsia ionantha in bloom

File:Bromeliacea tillandsia fasciculata swartz.jpg|Tillandsia fasciculata

File:Tillandsia bergeri.jpg|Tillandsia bergeri

File:空氣鳳梨 20190409105748.jpg|Tillandsia, 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition, Taiwan

File:Curly_airplant_on_rock.jpg|Tillandsia streptophylla growing on a limestone rock

File:T ianotha seed pods.jpg|Seed pods on T. ionantha in the center of the rosette

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• {{Commons category-inline|Tillandsia}}

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Category:Epiphytes

Category:Bromeliaceae genera