tillandsia

[ ti-land-zee-uh ]

noun

1. any of numerous, chiefly epiphytic bromeliads of the genus Tillandsia, including Spanish moss and many species cultivated as ornamentals.

tillandsia

/ tɪˈlændzɪə /

noun

1. any bromeliaceous epiphytic plant of the genus Tillandsia, such as Spanish moss, of tropical and subtropical America

Word History and Origins

Origin of tillandsia¹

< New Latin (Linnaeus), after Elias Tillands, 17th-century Finno-Swedish botanist; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of tillandsia¹

C18: New Latin, named after Elias Tillands (died 1693), Finno-Swedish botanist

Example Sentences

The insects in the water which ought to nourish the Bromeliad (Tillandsia) are really used by the Utricularia.

From Project Gutenberg

Tillandsia, ti-land′zi-a, n. a genus of mainly epiphytic plants of the pine-apple family (Bromeliace).

From Project Gutenberg

We spent half-an-hour in dragging the tillandsia from the trees, and collecting the soft leaves of the pawpaws.

From Project Gutenberg

From some of these trees a peculiar tillandsia streams down, much like our Spanish moss,—but it is black!

From Project Gutenberg

It is composed almost entirely of dead cane leaves, a little Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), and a few skeletonized leaves.

From Project Gutenberg