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{{SPlantbox
| latin_name = ''Tillandsia''
|familia=Bromeliaceae
| common_names = <!--- if multiple, list all, if none, leave blank -->
|genus=Tillandsia
| growth_habit = ? <!--- tree, shrub, herbaceous, vine, etc -->
|common_name=Air plant
| high = ? <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
| wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
|habit=bromeliad
|lifespan=perennial
|features=flowers, foliage
| lifespan = <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Tillandsia aeranthos.jpg
| features = <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
|image_width=240
| hardiness = <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
|image_caption=Tillandsia aeranthos
| bloom = <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
| image = Tillandsia aeranthos.jpg
| image_width = 240px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
| image_caption = Tillandsia aeranthos
}}
}}
The [[plant]] genus '''''Tillandsia''''', a member of the [[Bromeliad]] family (Bromeliaceae), is found in the [[desert]]s, [[forest]]s and [[mountain]]s of [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]], and [[Mexico]] and the southern [[United States]] in [[North America]].
The thinner-leafed varieties grow in rainy areas and the thick-leafed varieties in areas more subject to drought. Moisture and nutrients are gathered from the air (dust, decaying leaves and insect matter) through structures on the leaves called [[trichome]]s.
''Tillandsia'' species are [[epiphyte]]s (also called [[Raunkiær plant life-form|aerophytes]] or ''air plants'') – ''ie'' they normally grow without [[soil]] while attached to other plants). Epiphytes are not [[parasitic]], depending on the host only for support.
The genus ''Tillandsia'' was named by [[Carolus Linnaeus]] after the Swedish physician and botanist Dr. [[Elias Tillandz]] (originally Tillander) (1640-1693).
==Etymology==
Common names for ''Tillandsia'' include ''air plant'', ''[[Ball moss]]'' (''T. recurvata'') and ''[[Spanish moss]]'', the latter referring to ''T. usneoides'' in particular.
==Description==
''Tillandsia'' are epiphytes and need no soil because water and nutrients are absorbed through the leaves. The roots are used as anchors only. Reproduction is by seeds or by offsets called "pups". A single plant could have up to a dozen pups.
Although not normally cultivated for their flowers, some ''Tillandsia'' will bloom on a regular basis. In addition, it is quite common for some species to take on a different leaf colour (usually changing from green to red) when about to flower. This is an indication that the plant is monocarpic (flowers once before dying) but offsets around the flowering plant will continue to thrive.
Temperature is not critical, the range being from 32°C down to 10°C. They are sensitive to frost, except for the hardiest species, ''T. usneoides'', which can tolerate night-time frosts down to about -10°C.
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Tillandsia (Elias Tillands was professor of medicine at the University of Abo, Sweden; in 1673 he made a catalogue of plants of the vicinity of Abo). Bromeliaceae. Mostly epiphytes and all natives of America, allied to billbergias, aechmeas, guzmanias, pineapples, and the like; ornamental glasshouse subjects.
Tillandsia (Elias Tillands was professor of medicine at the University of Abo, Sweden; in 1673 he made a catalogue of plants of the vicinity of Abo). Bromeliaceae. Mostly epiphytes and all natives of America, allied to billbergias, aechmeas, guzmanias, pineapples, and the like; ornamental glasshouse subjects.
==Species==
==Species==
<!-- This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc -->
:''[[List of Tillandsia species]]''
Subgenera:
* ''Tillandsia''
* ''[[Allardtia]]'' <small>(A. Dietr) Baker</small>
* ''[[Anoplophytum]]'' <small>(Beer) Baker</small>
* ''[[Diaphoranthema]]'' <small>(Beer) Baker</small>
* ''[[Phytarrhiza]]'' <small>(Vis.) Baker</small>
* ''[[Pseudalcantarea]]'' <small>Mez</small>
Selected species:
* ''[[Tillandsia aeranthos]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia anceps]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia bulbosa]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia caput-medusae]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia cyanea]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia excelsa]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia fasciculata]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia flabellata]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia funckiana]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia gardneri]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia lindenii]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia lorenziana]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia paucifolia]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia stricta]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia tenuifolia]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia usneoides]]''
* ''[[Tillandsia xerographica]]''
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Tillandsia bloom.jpg|in bloom
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Tillandsia tower arp.jpg| Collection of Tillandsia on a log
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
Image:Tillandsialog800pix.jpg| Tillandsia collection
Image:Tillandsia anceps - pl 1.jpg| [[Tillandsia anceps]]
</gallery>
</gallery>
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{{stub}}
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