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Useful Tropical Plants

Tillandsia xiphioides

Ker Gawl.

Bromeliaceae

+ Synonyms

Anoplophytum xiphioides (Ker Gawl.) Beer ex Baker

Tillandsia macrocnemis Griseb.

Tillandsia sericea Baker

Tillandsia suaveolens Lem.

Common Name:

Tillandsia xiphioides
Flowering plant in a pot
Photograph by: @penguin_yu_ki
Creative Commons License
Tillandsia xiphioides Tillandsia xiphioides Tillandsia xiphioides

General Information

Tillandsia xiphioides is an evergreen, epiphytic plant growing on the branches of trees. The main stem can be very short or up to 15cm long, the flowering stem can be 15 - 30cm or more tall[
639
Title
Rhodora Vol. 71
Publication
 
Author
Hodgdon A.R. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
The New England Botanical Club; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1969
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Tillandsia.
].The leaves are covered in absorbent silver-grey or white scales[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

639
Title
Rhodora Vol. 71
Publication
 
Author
Hodgdon A.R. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
The New England Botanical Club; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1969
ISBN
 
Description
Includes a treatment of the genus Tillandsia.

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height0.30 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Prefers a moist, partially shaded position[
302
Title
Tropical Ornamentals; A Guide
Publication
 
Author
Whistler. W. Arthur.
Publisher
Timber Press Inc. Oregon.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-88192-448-2
Description
An excellent little guide to some of the more commonly cultivated ornamental plants of the Tropics, often giving some information on the plants other uses.
]. The plant has a very sparse root system, mainly used for anchoring itself to the branches of trees. The plant absorbs most of its moisture and nutrients from the humid air of its environment, through the absorbent scale-coating of its leaves[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The strongly scented flowers are used in the preparation of a medicine for treating ailments of the chest[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Tillandsia+xiphioides>

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