Giant wild-pine, Giant airplant
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Tillandsia utriculata
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Bromeliaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Accent epiphyte; on live oaks along forest edges. |
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; or terrestrial growing in leaf litter. |
Height: |
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12-30 inches in height; 6 feet or more in flower. |
Growth Rate: |
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Slow. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Flagler, Putnam, Lake and Citrus counties; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and northern South America. |
Habitats: |
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Moist forests and swamps. |
Soils: |
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Epiphytic; or terrestrial in moist, well-drained humusy leaf litter, acid to neutral pH. |
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. |
Flower Color: |
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Greenish-yellow. |
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. This is a monocarpic species, which dies after flowering. |
Comments: |
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It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida. |
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