General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.
Ecological Restoration Notes: A somewhat rare epiphyte in hammocks and swamps.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Epiphytic herb with light green leaves with a powdery coating.
Dimensions: About 6-12 inches in height; more when in flower. Taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Miami-Dade and Collier counties and the Monroe County mainland; West Indies, southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Very rare or extirpated in the Monroe County Keys.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Swamps and moist forests.
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 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: Low; requires moist substrate and high humidity and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: White.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season: Fall-winter.
Fruit: Green to brown capsule with hairy, wind dispersed seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology: Water is held in the "tank" at the base of the leaves, which insects and sometimes small vertebrates will utilize.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
Comments: It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida.
