Tillandsioideae

Tillandsioideae is a subfamily of plants in the bromeliad family Bromeliaceae. This subfamily contains the greatest number of species (1,277). Most are epiphytic or lithophytic, growing in trees or on rocks where they absorb water and nutrients from the air. Spanish moss of the Tillandsia genus is a well-known variety. Bromeliads in the genera Guzmania and Vriesea are the more commonly cultivated members of this subfamily.

Tillandsioideae
Tillandsia fasciculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Bromeliaceae
Subfamily: Tillandsioideae
Genera

See text

Description

Nearly all bromeliads have specialized cell groups called trichomes which form scales on the foliage. The trichomes occurring on Tillandsioideae may cover the plants so completely that they appear grey or white, like Spanish moss. In addition to absorbing nutrients, the trichomes may serve to insulate the plant from freezing weather.

Plants in this group have smooth or entire leaf margins, unusual color and markings, with many producing fragrant flowers. All their leaves are spineless (unarmed) and their fruit is a dry capsule containing winged seeds which are usually dispersed by breezes. Feathery seed plumes help them to adhere to a suitable epiphytic surface for germination. This subfamily is probably the most derived with special adaptations for survival in very dry conditions, with many described as xerophytes.

Genera

The 10 genera are:

ImageGenusNumber of living species
Alcantarea47 species
Catopsis Griseb.18 species
Glomeropitcairnia2 species
Guzmania Ruiz & Pav.215 species
Mezobromelia6 Species
Racinaea82 species
Tillandsia L.768 species
Vriesea Lindl.231 species
Wallisia (Regel) É.Morren5 species
Werauhia J.R.Grant96 species

References
    • BSI - Bromeliad Info - Taxonomy
    • Black, Robert J.; Bijan Dehgan. "Bromeliads". Electronic Data Information System. University of Florida IFAS Extension.
    • "Superorder Commelinanae". Texas A&M University Bioinformatics Working Group. 1999-04-03.
    • Luther, H. E. (2008) An Alphabetical List of Bromeliad Binomials, Eleventh Edition The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida, USA. Published by The Bromeliad Society International.
    • Gouda, E.J., Butcher, D. & Gouda, C.S. (cont.updated) Encyclopaedia of Bromeliads, Version 4. http://bromeliad.nl/encyclopedia/ Utrecht University Botanic Gardens (accessed: [29-01-2022])
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