SOMNIANS

TILLANDSIA SOMNIANS

Tillandsia is a genus of evergreen, perennial flowering plants commonly called airplants. They are mostly epiphytes growing without soil while attached to other plants. Generally, the thicker the leaf, the more tolerant they are of drought conditions. Tillandsias are very hardy, and require much less attention than other house plants. Propagation is by seeds or by offsets called "pups" which can be separated when about 2/3 the size of the mother plant. The flowers are generally small. The plants are monocarpic which means that they die after blooming. Tillandsia somnians is a species airplant native to south west Ecuador and north west Peru. It has lush green leaves which a slightly purple in the centre, and produces a long inflorescence with red bracts and purple flowers.