| Family: Bromeliad Sub-Family:  Tillandsioideae:  Genus: Tillandsia Sub-Genus: Native distribution and habitat: T. paleacea naturally grows on desert sands at                                      altitudes near sea level to 3,000 m from Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Columbia whereit can from amazingly thick tangled masses that entirely cover the ground.
 Growth habit: Depending on location, the plant is variable, with smaller and                                      larger leaf variations. The leaves develop from a long twisted stem.
 Foliage: The thin leaves are thin and look like twisted pieces of silver wire.In the                                      smaller form the leaf is 60mm long by 5mm wide.
 Flowers: A long thin green stalk emerges from the plant tipped with a thin                                      green faintly purple sheath, from which attractive astor - violet blooms open.
 While T. paleacea has small flowers, they are eye catching and fragrant. The                                      flowers are keeled.
 Seed:
                                       Pups: The plant produces pups from back growth on the stem. Cultivation: A hardy, adaptable and easy plant to grow it can endure long                                      dry periods but will respond to regular misting in the warmer months. Dale W.
 Jenkins of the Sarasota Bromeliad Society suggests the species is hardy with                                      survival and little or no damage at -3 °c for several hours.
 Availability: Often available as single shoots.
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