Re: Mistery plant
- Subject: Re: Mistery plant
- From: &* A* O* <s*@gimcw.org>
- Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:07:49 -0500 (Central Daylight Time)
Hi Alexandre -
I believe this plant is probably Tillandsia recurvata (or perhaps a similar
species), a bromeliad from South America. As a point of comparison, see these
photos:
http://jardin-mundani.info/bromeliaceae/claveller-aire.jpg
http://jardin-mundani.info/bromeliaceae/tillandsia88.jpg
You mention that it never flowers may be due to lack of humidity, which is one
of the 'features' of the mediterranean climate. She might do what she can to
soak the plant periodically (since its habitat is to perch in trees, it
readily absorbs moisture though the leaves and in the small pockets formed at
their bases). People who cultivate these plants in pots routinely dunk them
for a number of minutes in a bucket of water to achieve 'watering'.
Seán A. O'Hara
sean(at)gimcw.org
www.hortulusaptus.com
(ask about mediterranean climate gardening forum)
> Hello group! Afriend of mine asked me to help her identify this plant. She has
> had it on her garden for several years (around 20) and she refers to it as "a
> cactus that grows on the olive tree". I'm pretty sure it's not a cactus but
> I'm not sure if it isn't any kind of succulent. To me it looks like a
> bromeliad (maybe a tillandsia). In all these years she never saw any flowers.
> The fotos of the plant can be found on the links bellow
> http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb247/gintoino/alex3.jpg
> http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb247/gintoino/alex2.jpg
> http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb247/gintoino/alex.jpg
> Thank you all
> Alexandre
