Spanish moss – Air Plant – Tillandsia usneoides

R35.00

Plant ± 16 g in weight

Out of stock

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Description

Tillandsia usneoides is a rootless, perennial epiphyte that typically wraps around and hangs from branches or slabs of bark of host trees. It has stringy gray stems with alternate thin, curved, or curly, heavily scaled leaves.



Family:

Bromeliaceae

Genus:

Common Name(s):

Spanish moss, 'Old Mans Beard'

Mature Size:

6+ meters long

Origin:

Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the Southern United States and West Indies.

Dormancy:

Flower Colours:

Yellow-green

Bloom Season:

Rarely flowers

Sun Exposure:

Bright, filtered sunlight

Watering:

Mist Once a Week
Submerge (15 - 30 min) once every two weeks

Temperatures:

15 - 30°C

Toxic:

No

 

Traditional uses

Fevers and chills, wound healing, respiratory issues, and hormonal balance. Traditional uses also include treating rheumatism, diabetes, and haemorrhoids.

Modern research findings

Antimicrobial

An antibacterial compound from Spanish moss has shown effectiveness against Staphylococcus bacteria.

Diabetes

Extract from the plant has shown potential to reduce blood glucose in animal studies.

Antitumor

Some studies suggest potential antitumor and immunomodulatory effects, although further research is required.

Antioxidant

The plant is known to have antioxidant properties.

Important considerations

Modern application

Many modern studies focus on extracting specific compounds rather than using the raw plant.