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strap airplant
Scientific Name: Catopsis
Family: Bromeliaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Florida's Native Strap Airplants
Considerations for Pets
- Many air plants have strap-shaped or slender, triangular leaves.
- Some resources suggest attaching air plants using straps, which could pose a potential ingestion hazard.
Considerations for Children
- Many air plants have strap-shaped or slender, triangular leaves.
- Some resources suggest attaching air plants using straps, which could pose a potential ingestion hazard.
Scientific and Common Names
- Genus: Catopsis
- Common Name: Strap Airplant
- Catopsis floribunda: Florida Strap Airplant
- Catopsis berteroniana: Powdery Strap Airplant, Powdery Catopsis, West Indies Catopsis, Mealy Wild Pine
- Catopsis nutans: Nodding Strap Airplant
- Catopsis sessiliflora: Sessileleaf Strap Airplant
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Family: Bromeliaceae (Bromeliad Family)
- Genus: Catopsis Griseb.
- Synonyms: Tillandsia nutans Sw. (for Catopsis nutans)
- Catopsis berteroniana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Mez
- Catopsis berteroniana (J.A. and J.H. Schultes) Mez
- Catopsis floribunda L.B. Sm.
- Catopsis juncifolia Mez
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to Southern Mexico and Central America, with a small native population in Southwest Florida.
- Found in Florida, the West Indies, and northern South America (for Catopsis floribunda).
- Specifically mentioned locations include the Fakahatchee Strand in Southwest Florida and Cypress swamps in Florida.
Ecological Role
- Recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.
- Functions as an epiphyte, growing on other plants (e.g., trees).
- Can be rare in some areas of South Florida.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Generally described as strap airplants due to their leaf shape.
- Tillandsia species are described as having green, scaly leaves that are strap-shaped, narrow triangular, or linear, usually growing in rosettes.
- Catopsis floribunda is a night-flowering bromeliad.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Catopsis floribunda is one of only two known carnivorous bromeliads. It consumes insects and other organisms.
- Weevils (specifically Metamasius callizona) can attack native Tillandsia bromeliads.
Further Information
- Dave's Garden: A community for sharing gardening tips, ideas, seeds, and plants.
- USF Herbarium: Specimen details for Powdery Strap Airplant (Catopsis berteroniana) available.
- Discover Life: Biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution information for Catopsis nutans (Nodding strap airplant).