Tillandsia usneoides
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Tillandsia usneoides alongside other bromeliads |
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Tillandsia usneoides is referred to in German as Louisianamoos or Spanish moss and in English as "Spanish Moss" (another name from Spanish is "Cabello de hadas", in German "Feenhaar"). It belongs to the species-rich genus of the Tillandsia ( Tillandsia ) fromthe bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae).
The home is in America and ranges from the southern states of the USA to Argentina and Chile . In the meantime, the plant has also been naturalized in other countries with a similar climate.
description
The growth habit of Tillandsia usneoides resembles that of the beard lichen ( Usnea ); the species name is also derived from this. It hangs as an epiphyte from branches, cacti, rock walls, power lines, etc.
Tillandsia usneoides is very rich in shape. There are varieties and types with very thin shoots to some with thicker shoots. Only as a seedling does this species develop a small radicle. After that she lives completely without roots. In long shoots it hangs from all suitable supports such as branches, power lines or roofs and the water and nutrients are supplied solely by rain and air. The propagation takes place mostly vegetatively by parts or less often by seeds with parachutes. Only one sessile, inconspicuous, greenish flower is formed per shoot . All parts of the plant except the flower are densely covered by suction scales, so the plants look gray when it is not raining. When the plants are damp, the air is displaced by water from the suction scales and the plants appear greener.
use
Louisian moss was previously used as a packaging and upholstery material for sofas and mattresses, which often proved to be problematic as bedbugs often nestled in the plant .
Others
According to an Indian legend, Louisian moss is the hair of a princess who was killed by enemies on the day of her wedding. The grieving groom is said to have cut it off and hung it in a tree. The wind carried the hair away, spreading it all over the country.
photos
Hanging from a Virginia oak ( Quercus virginiana ).
Illustration: habit and flower.
Close-up: you can see the habitus and the suction scales on all parts of the plant.
Close-up: the yellow-green flower can be seen
literature
- Jürgen Röth & Wilhelm Weber: Tillandsien, flowers of the air , Neumann Verlag, Radebeul, 1991, ISBN 3-7402-0086-3
- Julian A. Steyermark, Paul E. Berry & Bruce K. Holst: Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana Vol.3. Araliaceae - Cactaceae , Missouri Botanical Garden Scientific Publications, St. Louis MO, USA, 1997, ISBN 0-915279-46-0
Web links
- Description of the species in the Flora of North America. (engl.)
- Characteristics. ( Memento from January 17, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
- A look at floridata. (engl.)
- Information from the Zurich Botanical Garden. (German)
- Entry at GRIN.