| Positive | NativePlantFan9 | On Jan 26, 2005, NativePlantFan9 from Boca Raton, FL (Zone 10a) wrote: This species is native to the coastal hammocks, swamps, pinelands, mangrove swamps and mangrove swamp edges, and coastal scrublands and scrub and oak scrublands of the southern counties of Florida through the Keys (zones 9b through 11). This is a small, twisted species with a swollen base and short, drooping leaves, and is found growing on tree branches, twigs, and trunks. Due to habitat destruction and overcollection of this unusual species, it is listed as endangered by the state of Florida. Synonyms of this species are Anoplophytum flexuosum (Sw.)Beer, Platystachys patens (Willd. ex Schult.f.)K.Koch, Tillandsia aloifolia Hook., Tillandsia flexuosa Sw. var. fasciata Lindl., Tillandsia flexuosa Sw. var. vivipara Andre, Tillandsia limbata Schltdl., Tillandsia patens Willd. ex Schult.f., and Vriesea aloifolia (Hook.)Beer. This species is also found in Mexico and parts of Central and South America, as well as in parts of the West Indies. In Florida, it occurs in Martin, Highlands, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe (mainland and the Keys), Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Hendry and Glades counties. The last half of the scientific name, 'flexuosa', means torturous or winding. |
