Tillandsia subg. Diaphoranthema
Tillandsia usneoides, habit and yellow flower.
Diaphoranthema is a sub-species of the genus Tillandsia in the family Bromeliaceae ( Bromeliaceae ). It is the smallest species of the genus Tillandsia, and thus the whole family of bromeliads ( Bromeliaceae ).
Description
They live mainly epiphytic, ie on other plants ( mostly these are trees or cacti). However, there are species that live lithophytic, ie on rocks (but also roofs and even phone wires ). None of the species live terrestrially ( on the floor). All species are gray Tillandsias in low rainfall areas with high humidity. They prefer full sun and are therefore on the upper floors of the woods, found on rocks or (more rarely) on the floor. It is the smallest species of the genus Tillandsia, and thus the whole family of bromeliads ( Bromeliaceae ). And the least among them is Tillandsia bryoides; it is rarely more than 5 cm.
They are very few roots or are largely rootless plants. The leaves are in small rosettes or on short stems; a particular growth form has Tillandsia usneoides ( see there). The leaves are rough, entire and relatively densely occupied with Saugschuppen.
Unlike many other bromeliads their inflorescences are relatively insignificant and small. However, the hermaphrodite, threefold flowers have normal sizes for Tillandsia species. The three sepals are free, symmetric. The color of the three free petals is different for each species. The six stamens are shorter than the petals are narrow. The style is short and thick. They form seed capsules in which the flight hairs of the seeds are not folded.
Types ( complete)
- Tillandsia aizoides
- Tillandsia andicola
- Tillandsia angulosa
- Tillandsia brealitoensis
- Tillandsia bryoides
- Tillandsia caliginosa
- Tillandsia capillaris
- Tillandsia castellanii
- Tillandsia copynii
- Tillandsia cotagaitensis
- Tillandsia erecta
- Tillandsia funebris
- Tillandsia gilliesii
- Tillandsia hirta
- Tillandsia kuehhasii
- Tillandsia landbeckii
- Tillandsia loliacea
- Tillandsia mollis
- Tillandsia myosura
- Tillandsia pedicellata
- Tillandsia rectangula
- Tillandsia recurvata
- Tillandsia retorta
- Tillandsia spiralipetala
- Tillandsia tenebra
- Tillandsia tricholepis
- Tillandsia usneoides
- Tillandsia virescens