Tillandsia australis, catalogue of Bromeliad plants

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 australis

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Native distribution and habitat: T. australis is a native to Bolivia and southern Argentina where it grows from seal level to around 700 metres 3,900 m. It is a species that grows Saxicolous on steep rocks and epiphytic, where it is adapted to endure periods of both dry and rainy weather.

Growth habit: T. australis is a huge saxicolous (clinging on rocks) or occasionally epiphyte monocarpic bromeliad with a spectacular pending spike. This species has long been known as T. maxima, but this name proved to be invalid as it was already in use for an obscure bromeliad from Central America. It has a negative geotropic habit.

Foliage: It has star-shaped form up to 1.6 metres in diameter. Leaves can be 800 mm long

Flowers: The plant producers an inflorescence 80-240 cm long, dark-red or purple, amply 2 times branched, very variable, glabrous; Primary bracts like the peduncle-bracts, large and conspicuous; Branches sub-erect, to 40 cm long, the basal third sterile, then bearing 1-7 spikes. Secondary bracts much reduced, ovate, acute; Spikes lanceolate to linear, 11-30 cm long, sublaxly to sub-densely 8-22- flowered, strongly complanate. Floral bracts suberect but relatively narrow and more or less exposing the rhachis, broadly elliptic, sub-obtuse, 22-40 mm long, equaling or slightly exceeding the sepals and apparently fleshy, becoming coarsely rugose when dry, ecarinate, not incurved; Stout, erect and then pending. Scape-bracts densely imbricate, foliaceous. The flower have violet petals.

Seed:

Pups: Adventurous pup will often form at the base of the plant.

Cultivation: The foliage of the rosette overlaps basally to forms a reservoir (phytotelma), in which rainfall and leaf litter can accumulate, allowing the plant to draw upon their water reservoir during periods of drought. Grow it in bright filtered light both indoors and out. In the garden it grow best where it will get morning sun, but will also grows equally well in direct mid-day sun in hot summer climates. It can withstand cool conditions.

Availability: A highly sort after plant that can be a difficult plant to locate.

More information HERE