Bromeliaceae
Tillandsia
Representative image.
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Genus Parent: Bromeliaceae Status: Valid
Morphological Description
Diagnosis: Epiphytic herbs. Leaves to 25 cm long, the base very wide and imbricate, borne from a swollen bulbous base, green or mottled red, the margins lacking spines. Inflorescence a spike, the flowers subtended by a colorful bract. Flowers sessile, tubular, red. Infructescence with persistent red bracts. Fruit a capsule, to 6 cm long, brown when mature. Seeds tiny, winged, many per fruit. Distribution: Southern United States, Central America, Trinidad to Peru and Bolivia.