Scientific name:  Tillandsia simulata Small

Status in Florida: Precinctive (found nowhere else); not listed as threatened

Threats to this plant: Possibly Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona)

Distribution: Florida

Distribution in Florida: Citrus, DeSoto, Flagler, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia Counties

Occurrence in Florida: Frequent

Habitat: Moist hammocks and swamps, usually in strong light

Description: Epiphytic; plants single or in clusters; grows to 20-40 cm (8-16 in.) tall; pointed, leathery, grayish leaves; simple flower spike with reddish floral bracts; 5-30 violet flowers (4.5 cm [1 3/4 in.] long); seed capsules up to 3 cm (1 1/8 in.) long

Time of flowering: Spring - summer

References:
Flora of North America Association. 2000. Flora of North America, Vol. 22. http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/FNA

Hall, David W. 1993. Illustrated Plants of Florida and the Coastal Plain. Maupin House, Gainesville, FL.

Wunderlin, Richard P. 1982. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central Florida. University Presses of Florida, Tampa.

Wunderlin, Richard P. and Bruce F. Hansen. 2000. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa. http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu