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A catalogue of Bromeliads used for various projects by - © Lloyd Godman 

This is a catalogue of bromeliads used by Lloyd godman for his various installations and photosynthesis projects - the collection of pants he accessed in New Zealand from 1996 - 2004 was collected from a wide range of sources, while most were brought from Greens Bromeliads, some were also donated by the Dunedin Botanical Gardens. Later in 2004 these plants were either sold or given away with his move to Australia.

Lloyd is at present re-establishing his collection where he now lives in Melbourne.

A Lexicon of Bromeliads: A resource by Lloyd Godman

Genus - Tillandsia: Sub-Family - Tillandsioideae: Family - Bromeliad

 

Tillandsias are regarded as true air plants and as such are among the most unusual of the Bromeliad family. They range from bulbous forms and grass like structures to silver tufted masses. Typically they grow where there is free air movement like high treetop environments or across open rock faces, and often they are heavily covered in silver trichomes that help reflect the high levels of sun light they receive in these locations. While some tolerate temperatures as low as 5 degrees C (40 degrees F), or even lower, most prefer temperatures of around 10-32 degrees C (50-32 degrees F). While they require high levels of humidity, they need to dry out quickly and completely between misting or watering. As the trichome scales open to absorb moisture and close to retain it, it is important that the plants are given time to dry out and most plant deaths occur because of over watering.

Tillandsia achyrostachys - Subgenus: Tillandsia E.Morren ex Baker
With straw like spikes.

Tillandsia achyrostachys

Flower - Tillandsia achyrostachys

Flower - Tillandsia achyrostachys

Intricate leaf trichome patternof Tillandsia achyrostachy

Intricate leaf trichome pattern of Tillandsia achyrostachy

 

Native distribution and habitat: The species is endemic to the Oaxaca region of Mexico, and grows epiphytically in cloud forests at elevations of 2,000 m.

Climate: Climate guide Oaxaca

Growth habit: The plant forms a symmetrical rosette

Foliage: The soft green silver leaves gracefully re-curve downwards as in archetype G

Flowers: The plant produces amazing pink flower spikes, but there is a trick in this plant’s flowering. Just as the flowers are about to open the inflorescence loses colour and can turn a straw brown. At this point some growers feel the spike has failed and cut it off. The flowers are tubular in form with green petals. The photograph of the flower is not typical as the inflorescence tip was eaten off by an possum, but it still managed to produce a few flowers.

Seed:

Pups:

Cultivation: In warm weather, keep the plant relatively moist, cool periods keep dryer. The plant grows upside down quite well. Early morning sunlight with light shade. For me the plant has survived -C temperatures against a wall and kept dry.

Availability: This is a rare and sought after plant.

 

 

 

NEED MORE INFORMATION - GET THE EBOOK

 

 

 

 

Tillandsimania - is an interactive PDF and a work in progress which is updated regularly.

It is an E pub on Tillandsias and contains extensive information.

info on Tillandsia – air plant E book PDF