Giant airplant facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Giant airplant
Scientific classification
Genus:	Tillandsia
Species:	fasciculata
Synonyms
Tillandsia eminens Lindl. Vriesea glaucophylla Hook. Platystachys glaucophylla (Hook.) Beer Platystachys havanensis Beer Tillandsia havanensis Beer Tillandsia macrostachya Klotzsch ex Beer Tillandsia pungens Mez Tillandsia beutelspacheri Matuda ex L.B.Sm. Tillandsia wilsonii S.Watson Tillandsia hystricina Small

Tillandsia fasciculata, commonly known as the giant airplant or cardinal airplant, is a species of bromeliad that is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies, northern South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Suriname, French Guiana, northern Brazil), and the southeastern United States (Georgia and Florida). Within the United States, this airplant is at risk of extirpation from the Mexican bromeliad weevil, Metamasius callizona.

Varieties and cultivars

Four varieties are recognized:

1. Tillandsia fasciculata var. clavispica Mez - Florida, Cuba, southern Mexico, Cayman Islands
2. Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica Mez - Florida, southern and eastern Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Hispaniola
3. Tillandsia fasciculata var. fasciculata - most of species range
4. Tillandsia fasciculata var. laxispica Mez - central Mexico, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba

Several cultivars have been named:

• Tillandsia 'Beauty'
• Tillandsia 'Casallena'
• Tillandsia 'Cathcart'
• Tillandsia 'Chevalieri'
• Tillandsia 'Chiquininga'
• Tillandsia 'Ervin Wurthmann'
• Tillandsia 'Florida'
• Tillandsia 'Hines Poth'
• Tillandsia 'Jalapa Fortin'
• Tillandsia 'Latas au Pair'
• Tillandsia 'Maria Teresa L.'
• Tillandsia 'Miz Ellen'
• Tillandsia 'Neerdie'
• Tillandsia 'Pachuca'
• Tillandsia 'Silver Bullets'
• Tillandsia 'Summer Dawn'
• Tillandsia 'Sybil Frasier'
• Tillandsia 'Tropiflora'
• Tillandsia 'Unamit'
• Tillandsia 'Verraco'
• Tillandsia 'Veteran'

See also

In Spanish: Barba española de Cuba para niños