Tillandsioideae - Citizendia

Tillandsioideae

Tillandsia fasciculata

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Poales
Family:	Bromeliaceae
Subfamily:	Tillandsioideae

Tillandsioideae is a subfamily of plants in the bromeliad family Bromeliaceae. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Monocotyledons or monocots are one of two major groups of Flowering plants (angiosperms that are traditionally recognised the other being Dicotyledons Poales is an order of Flowering plants in the Monocotyledons and includes families of plants such as the grasses, Bromeliads, This group contains the least amount of genera (10) but the most amount of species (1,250). A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Most are epiphytic or lithophytic, growing in trees or on rocks where they absorb water and nutrients from the air. An epiphyte is an organism that grows upon or attaches to a living plant Lithophytes are a type of Plant that grows in or on rocks. Lithophytes feed off Moss, nutrients in rain water litter and even their own dead tissue Spanish moss of the Tillandsia genus is a well-known variety. Spanish moss ( Tillandsia usneoides) closely resembles its namesake ( Usnea, or beard lichen The Plant genus Tillandsia, a member of the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae is found in the Deserts Forests and Mountains A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Bromeliads in the generas Guzmania and Vriesia are the more commonly cultivated members of this subfamily. Guzmania is a Genus of Epiphytes the guzmanias. Several Species of this genus are cultivated as indoor and outdoor garden plants Vriesea (named for Willem Hendrik de Vriese, Dutch Botanist, Physician) is the second largest Genus of the Tillandsioideae

Description

Nearly all bromeliads have specialized cell groups called trichomes which form scales on the foliage. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called Trichomes, from the Greek meaning "growth of Hair " are fine outgrowths or appendages on Plants and certain Protists These are of diverse In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. 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 evolved with special adaptations for survival in very dry conditions, with many described as xerophytes. A xerophyte or xerophytic organism ( xero meaning dry phyte meaning plant is a Plant which is able to survive in an ecosystem with little available

Tillandsia genus

Tillandsia excelsa in bloom

Guzmania lingulata

References

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