In 1737 French botanist Elias Tillandsia his journey to Japan for a botanical expedition, due to a storm sunk and lives an experience that no one wanted to repeat and therefore preferred to go back to make 2000 km walk than to cross the sea 300 km.

Of all the plants discovered by Elias Tillandsia, Tillandsia is the most fascinating kind for the variety of forms, the beauty of flowers and original way to hranii without using root.

Tillandsia are species belonging to the Bromeliaceae, there are 548 species of which 40 are 508 are epiphytic and terrestrial.

Species of Tillandsia are present in all the South American continent to California and Florida, growing from sea level to 4000 m altitude. Their shapes depend on the environments in which to grow and climatic factors typical site.

Epiphytic plants are adapted to dry climate and get food into the air and marcescente substances that accumulates on tree branches.

Tillandsia have internoduri strain with a very short internode present every one or two leaves with parallel ribs. Strain grows very slowly and remain short stolonifere species (T. rupicola, T. usneoides, T. latifolia) can alungii.

The leaves are entire, of various forms. In cases of young, are triangulation and resembles those of grasses, or filiforme, with typical acute peak. Different leaf width from 1 mm to several centimeters. May be more or less velvety, opaque, depending on species, climate, and the old plant.

Plant roots are much reduced or absent, when present they only function of anchoring.

Species of Tillandsia feed through the leaves, absorbs atmospheric moisture by multicellular epidermal structures, which gives the plant a soft gray matter.

Take their nutrients from the atmosphere as seaca, vapor (sulfur and nitrogen), or through precipitation.

Species of Tillandsia are plants that bloom only once.

Tractorescente are type ear or a cluster composed of small flowers and have a life span of a few days to several months, depending on the species. Species of very vivid colors, from pink to fuchsia portoaliu.

In areas of origin, after blooming, buds appear on the plant, which will give other plants. In our climate grows in the greenhouse or apartment.

The flowers are hermaphrodite and most are tuboloase. The fruit is a capsule, which matures release dozens or hundreds of seeds.

Propagation is achieved by taking on a drajonilor of adult plants, which was dried flower. This is the fastest and most economical method. Reproduction by seeds and practice is rarely or only in certain species or to create new hybrids. A culture of plants grown from seed, is more homogeneous in size, compared with those obtained by basal shoots. In each case, the natural cycle, plants are subject to selection, to obtain uniform and high quality plants.

Spray two or three times a week, with water to contain as little lime (rain water). Should avoid water stagnation in the "boat" form the rosette of leaves.

If the plant grows in an urban environment, Tillandsia will absorb moisture with air pollutants.

Most species of Tillandsia must have a filtered light, sheltered from direct sunlight, especially during the summer months when sunlight is strong and long lasting.

Sursa www.ortobotanico.unina.it, www.agraria.org, www.progettoverde.biz, www.lhostariaromana.com, www.tillandsie.net