Tillandsia caput-medusae is a species of flowering plant

Flowering plant

The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

 in the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae

Bromeliaceae

Bromeliaceae is a family of monocot flowering plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas, with a few species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana...

, subfamily Tillandsioideae

Tillandsioideae

Tillandsioideae is a subfamily of plants in the bromeliad family Bromeliaceae. This group contains the fewest genera but the greatest number of species . Most are epiphytic or lithophytic, growing in trees or on rocks where they absorb water and nutrients from the air. Spanish moss of the...

. Common names include Octopus Plant and Medusa's Head. An epiphyte

Epiphyte

An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...

 native to Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, T. caput-medusae is a commonly cultivated bromeliad species. The thick, channeled, tapering and twisting leaves are up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long and are covered in fine gray hairs. The rosette of leaves arise from an inflated pseudobulb. Pups are produced after blooming, as is usual with most Tillandsia species.

In a greenhouse, the plants can bloom from spring to early summer. The red inflorescences are usually unbranched or digitate. Bright violet flowers are about 3.2 cm (1.3 in) long with the stamens exerted.

Cultivars

• Tillandsia 'Bruce Aldridge' (T. caput-medusae × T. schiedeana
  Tillandsia schiedeana
  Tillandsia schiedeana is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species is native to Costa Rica, Mexico and Venezuela.-Cultivars:* Tillandsia 'Bruce Aldridge'* Tillandsia 'Candela'* Tillandsia 'Jack Staub'* Tillandsia 'Laurie'...
  
  )
• Tillandsia 'Calum'
  Tillandsia 'Calum'
  Calum is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. caput-medusae × T. brachycaulos)
• Tillandsia 'Canina'
  Tillandsia 'Canina'
  Canina is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. bulbosa
  Tillandsia bulbosa
  Tillandsia bulbosa is a species of the genus Tillandsia.- Cultivars :* Tillandsia 'Canina'* Tillandsia 'Chanza'* Tillandsia 'First Born'* Tillandsia 'Hyde's Silver'* Tillandsia 'Joel'* Tillandsia 'June Bug'...
  
   × T. caput-medusae)
• Tillandsia 'Cheryl' (T. caput-medusae × T. capitata 'Peach'
  Tillandsia capitata
  Tillandsia capitata is a species of the genus Tillandsia.- Cultivars :* Tillandsia 'Bacchus'* Tillandsia 'Lorenzo'* Tillandsia 'Love Knot'* Tillandsia 'Marron'* Tillandsia 'Maya'* Tillandsia 'Old Gold'...
  
  
• Tillandsia 'Como'
  Tillandsia 'Como'
  Como is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. streptophylla
  Tillandsia streptophylla
  Tillandsia streptophylla is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species is native to Costa Rica and Mexico.-Cultivars:* Tillandsia 'Anna'* Tillandsia 'Asombroso'* Tillandsia 'Como'* Tillandsia 'Curly Slim'...
  
   × T. caput-medusae)
• Tillandsia 'Gunalda'
  Tillandsia 'Gunalda'
  Gunalda is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. concolor × T. caput-medusae)
• Tillandsia 'Imbil'
  Tillandsia 'Imbil'
  Imbil is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. brachycaulos × T. caput-medusae)
• Tillandsia 'June Bug'
  Tillandsia 'June Bug'
  June Bug is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. caput-medusae × T. bulbosa)
• Tillandsia 'Litl Liz'
  Tillandsia 'Litl Liz'
  Litl Liz is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. caput-medusae × T. streptophylla)
• Tillandsia 'Panuco' (T. caput-medusae × T. durangensis
  Tillandsia durangensis
  Tillandsia durangensis is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species is endemic to Mexico.-References:* retrieved 3 November 2009* Retrieved 11 October 2009...
  
  )
• Tillandsia 'Pomona'
  Tillandsia 'Pomona'
  Pomona is a hybrid cultivar of the genus Tillandsia in the Bromeliad family....
  
   (T. caput-medusae × T. ionantha
  Tillandsia ionantha
  Tillandsia ionantha is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species is native to Costa Rica and Mexico.-Cultivars:* Tillandsia 'Aleta'* Tillandsia 'Apretado'* Tillandsia 'Aristocrat'* Tillandsia 'Boreen'...
  
  )
• Tillandsia 'Red Slippers' (T. ionantha var. van-hyningii × T. caput-medusae 'Red form')
• Tillandsia 'Sonoran Snow'
• Tillandsia 'Veronica Orozco' (T. baileyi
  Tillandsia baileyi
  Tillandsia baileyi, commonly known as the Reflexed Airplant or Bailey's Ball Moss, is a species of bromeliad that is native to southern Texas in the United States and Tamaulipas in Mexico. It is found along the Gulf of Mexico from Kingsville, Texas to Tampico, Tamaulipas...
  
   × T. caput-medusae)
• Tillandsia 'Vicente Bacaya' (T. capitata × T. caput-medusae)

External links

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