Kautsky’s tillandsia  (Tillandsia kautskyi)

Kautsky's tillandsia is listed on Appendix II of CITES (1).

Owing to their habit of growing on trees, cliffs and rocks, the highly specialised Tillandsia species are commonly known as ‘airplants’ (3) (4). Kautsky's tillandsia is a stemless species, comprising a crowded rosette of spirally arranged leaves, densely covered with greyish scales. The attractive, rose and lilac coloured inflorescence only just exceeds the leaves in length, and has three to six branches, with two flowers on each (2).

Kautsky's tillandsia is restricted to the state of Espirito Santo in south-eastern Brazil (2).

Kautsky's tillandsia is found in wet mountain forests at altitudes of 800 to 1000 metres above sea level (2).

Unlike most other vascular plants, the roots of Tillandsia species do not function in water and nutrient transport, but merely help the plant to cling to trees or rocks. Instead, tillandsias have tiny scales on their leaves called trichomes that absorb water from the atmosphere (3) (4).

Many Tillandsia species are believed to be threatened by over collection for the horticultural trade (5).

International trade in Kautsky's tillandsia is restricted by its listing on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (1).

 To find out more about tillandsias and other bromeliad species, visit: 

• Bromeliad Society International:
  http://www.bsi.org/