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****  FLORIDA'S NATIVE BROMELIADS  ****
Tillandsia simulata
Broad Needleleaf



Tillandsia simulata
Scientific name: Tillandsia simulata Small.

Common names: Broad needleaf.

Status in Florida: Precinctive (found nowhere else); Not listed as threatened.

Threats to this plant in Florida: Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona).

Distribution:
Florida.

Distribution in Florida: Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia Counties.

Occurrence in Florida: Frequent.
Habitat: Moist hammocks and swamps, usually in strong light.

Description: Epiphytic; plants single or in clusters; grows to 20-40 cm (8-16 in.) tall; pointed, leathery, grayish leaves; simple flower spike with reddish floral bracts; 5-30 violet flowers (4.5 cm [1  3/4 in.] long); seed capsules up to 3 cm (1  1/8 in.) long.

Time of flowering: Spring - summer.


References
Coile NC. 2000. Notes on Florida's Endangered and Threatened Plants. FDACS/DPI, Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, Botany Section. Contribution No. 38, 3rd ed., Gainesville, FL. http://www.virtualherbarium.org/EPAC

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1997.  Matrix of Habitats and Distribution by County of Rare/Endangered Species of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory/The Nature Conservancy.  http://www.fnai.org

Long RW, Lakela O. 1976. A Flora of Tropical Florida. Banyan Books, Miami. 178 p.

Luther HE, Benzing DH. 2009.  Native Bromeliads of Florida. Sarasota, FL. Pineapple Press, Inc.


Ward DB (ed.). 1979. Plants, Vol. 5. In: Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida, P.C.H. Pritchard (ed.). University Presses of Florida, Gainesville, 175 p.


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Web master: tmcooper@ufl.edu
Last update: 17 February 2016