illandsia usneoides (L.) L.

Common Names: Spanish Moss, Old Mans Beard
Family: Bromeliaceace

Habit: Tillandsia usneoides grows as an epiphyte as a series of hanging connected plants. The leaves are covered with gray lepidote scales. The base of 2-3 leaves forms a pseudobulb/stem less than 1 mm in diameter. The leaves are to 8 cm in length, without a distinction from leaf base to leaf, with an acuminate leaf apex and entire margin.

The actinomorphic, complete, perfect flowers are arranged solitarily in leaf axils, each subtended by a bract. The greenish bract is linear to ovate with an acute or apiculate apex and is equal to or shorter than the length of the calyx. There are 3 green unfused sepals in the calyx. There are 3 light blue, unfused petals in the corolla. There are 6 stamens that are not longer than the petals. The ovary is superior with 3 locules and numerous seeds. The fruit is a capsule. Each seed has a tuft of hair to assist in dispersal.

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