Flowering Epiphytes in the Christopher B. Smith Preserve

Epiphyte Characteristics: Epiphytes are organisms that grow on plants for support only, not for nutritional gain. A variety of non-flowering species of epiphytes live in the Smith Preserve. Included in this group are ferns (Golden Polypody, Resurrection Fern, and Shoestring Fern), lichens, and mosses. By clicking on their names, you can learn more about those.

On this page, only flowering epiphytes living in the Smith Preserve are discussed. Although some orchids are flowering epiphytes, there are none presently in the Preserve. All flowering epiphytes that have been found belong to the same plant family, Bromeliaceae (The Pineapple Family). Sometimes called "air plants," all of these bromeliads belong to the same genus, Tillandsia.

Interactions in the Smith Preserve: Within the Smith Preserve, flowering epiphytes photosynthesize, producing food and oxygen for other organisms. These epiphytes also provide habitat for insects, spiders, frogs, geckos, and lizards. The 7 flowering epiphytes that have been identified in the Preserve are listed below. Click on the species name to learn more about each one.

Species Name	Common Name
Tillandsia balbisiana	Wild Pine / Northern Needleleaf
Tillandsia fasciculata	Cardinal Airplant / Wild Pine
Tillandsia paucifolia	Potbelly Airplant
Tillandsia recurvata	Ballmoss
Tillandsia setacea	Southern Needleleaf
Tillandsia usneoides	Spanish Moss
Tillandsia variabilis	Leatherleaf Airplant

 

© Photographs and text by Susan Leach Snyder (Conservancy of Southwest Florida Volunteer), unless otherwise credited above.

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