Banded wild-pine, Twisted airplant
Tillandsia flexuosa
Bromeliaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also accent epiphtye.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Epiphytic herb.
Height:
6-12 inches in height; up to 24 inches in flower. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate:
Slow.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north to St. Lucie, Hendry and Charlotte counties; disjunct and very rare in Highlands County; West Indies, Central America and northern South America. Very rare in the middle Monroe County Keys.
Habitats:
Moist forests and swamps.
Soils:
Epiphytic; grows on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs.
Nutritional Requirements:
Low; it grows on nutrient poor substrate.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Light shade.
Flower Color:
White, rose, or purple.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season:
Spring-summer.
Fruit:
Green to brown capsule with hairy, wind dispersed seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed and division.
Comments:
It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.


James Johnson, 2014
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
George D. Gann, 2013
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Key Largo, Florida
George D. Gann, 2013
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Key Largo, Florida
Steven E. Green