Reflexed wild-pine
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Tillandsia balbisiana
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Bromeliaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also accent epiphtye. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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A relatively common epiphyte in hammocks and swamps. |
Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts. |
Description: |
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Epiphytic herb. |
Height: |
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About 6-12 inches in height; up to 24 inches in flower. Taller than broad. |
Growth Rate: |
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Slow. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Indian River, Orange, Polk and Hillsborough counties; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. Rare in the Monroe County Keys and either very rare or absent in the middle Keys. Scattered north of Lake Okeechobee. |
Habitats: |
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Moist forests and swamps. |
Soils: |
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Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows on nutrient poor substrate. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Light shade to full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Purple. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy inflorescence. |
Flowering Season: |
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Summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Green to brown capsule with hairy, wind dispersed seeds. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed and division. |
Comments: |
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It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida. |
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George D. Gann in habitat, Dominican Republic, 2011
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