Scientific name:  Tillandsia variabilis Schlecht.

Former name: Tillandsia valenzuelana

Other common names: Soft-leaved wild pine

Status in Florida: Threatened

Threats to this plant: Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona), illegal collecting, habitat destruction

Distribution: Florida, West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America

Distribution in Florida: Broward, Collier, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee and Palm Beach Counties

Occurrence in Florida:Occasional

Habitat: Moist, shaded habitats (hammocks, cypress swamps)

Description: Tank epiphyte; plants usually single (not clustered); grows to 30-50 cm (12-20 in.) tall; 15-20 leaves with fine scales, soft, green-gray or silvery (may have rose or purplish coloring), tapering at the top; outer leaves are 2-3 cm (3/4 - 1 1/8 in.) wide at the base; simple flower spike with reddish or purple floral bracts (up to 3.5 cm [1 3/8 in.] long), violet petals (3.5 cm [1 3/8 in.] long), and white sepals (6 mm; 1/4 in.)

Time of flowering: Spring - fall

References:
Coile, Nancy C. 2000. Notes on Florida's Endangered and Threatened Plants. FDACS/DPI, Bureau of Entomology, Nematology and Plant Pathology, Botany Section. Contribution No. 38, 3rd ed., Gainesville, FL. http://www.virtualherbarium.org/EPAC

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

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 1997. Matrix of Habitats and Distribution by County of Rare/Endangered Species of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory/The Nature Conservancy. http://www.fnai.org

Long, Robert W. and Olga Lakela. 1976. A Flora of Tropical Florida. Banyan Books, Miami.