Tillandsia usneoides- Spanish Moss (Bromeliaceae)

The morphologically most unspecialized ("primitive", in a sense) members of this strictly Neotropical family are terrestrial xerophytes (Puya, Pitcairnia and Ananas, the pineapple). Intermediate in morphology are the tank epiphytes that use overlapping leaf bases to catch and store water (Vriesia, Neoregelia). The most specialized are the extremely modified Tillandsia species, which are covered with absorptive scales and lack root systems, at least as adults. Spanish Moss may be derived through a reduction series from typical epiphyticTillandsia species through the smaller species whose juvenile leaves look much like Spanish Moss.

Note evolutionary sequence in Bromeliads from:

I. Terrestial plants with soil roots.

II. Epiphytic with tank roots.

III. Tank absorbing trichomes-epidermal scales (many myrmecophilous, i.e. "ant lovers").

IV. Atmosphere absorbing trichomes

Tillandsia species with rooted rosettes

Tillandsia species with very irregular rosettes which do not hold water-many with ant gardens

Neotenic lichen-like epiphytes (Neoteny-retention of juvenile state into adulthood), such as Spanish Moss.

Many bromeliads act as breeding pools for tropical endemic frogs and insects. It is now known that some bromeliads have evolved the ability to be carnivorous.