Mystery Tillandsias

[voyager]

This seems to be the place to bring my Tillandsia questions, So, here goes:

These tillys were here when we bought our place here on Big Island almost 4 years ago. I'm certain they were placed by the previous owner, and are not native. It's been almost 4 years now and they have grown in size and I'm sure their numbers have increased also. But, I have never seen a flower produced, and they seem to be spaced too far apart to be from offsets.

This is the planting as it is now.


More of a close up to see more detail. Originally, the Tillys were about the size of the three little ones spaced across the top of the colony.


This one had beeen growing on the tip of a dead branch. It was the largest of all of them. It fell off the branch tip which has since weathered away. I picked it up and stuck it into the top of the Spanisn Moss just below the main group. It seems to be thriving there. It is amost a foot across tip to tip of the leaves. It has shown no sign of producing a flower. I've also since learned that the Spanish Moss is also a Tilly.


So, my questions:

1.
Can anyone place a name on these?

2.
Can they be expected to flower?

3.
Any other info about these Mystery Tillandsias?

[AnonYMouse]

I recognize the Spanish moss (usneoides)!

I only know what I have (and get mixed up anyways) and I have a couple that resemble the pompom-like ones on your tree. Check out filifolia and andreana (without flowers, I can't tell them apart. That's how inexpert I am).

Looks like a seed pod might have exploded, there's a uniformity in size and shape for many of the l'il ones.*

As for flowering, got me. I've had tiny ones bloom (not indicative of age) and heard the largest (xerograohica) takes decades.

*If it's andreana, you might not see a spent spike/capsule. If I didn't know, I'd have to look very carefully for evidence of a capsule. On another, I have to look hard to see the pup for the mother.

[kg5]

There seems to be a number of T. ionantha being the smaller grey coloured plants.

Very hard with no flowers for the rest them to name. Nice to go on-line with a flower for ID.

Big changes in temp seems to bring on flowering whether it is spring, summer or autumn here.

[estación seca]

It does look as though somebody put between 6 and 10 different kinds on that tree.

Some pineapple relatives can be induced to flower with ethylene gas, a natural ripening hormone produced by many plants. It is produced by ripe apples. Just as an experiment you might try pulling a larger rosette from one kind and put it into a paper bag with a ripe apple at night, then outside during the day for light. Do this for a week of nights and see what happens.

I would start with the small ones with lots of leaves. As kg5 wrote these are likely T. ionantha.

I don't know why they haven't bloomed. The ionanthas are large enough.

[Pattywack]

This is interesting as well as beautiful. The larger Tilly looks like one I had years ago but I've forgotten the name. I still have a few Tillys and several have flowered this year for the first time. One is finally putting out two pups.

I used to purchase my Tilly from a grower in Kentucky, Plant Oddities. Their website is amazing with nice photos of the different plants and they have many many different Tillys. Just a thought, you may be able to identify your plants through the listings there.

John, I believe is the owner and very helpful if you have questions. Tillys are so cool, I wish I could grow them outdoors on my trees. Thanks for sharing another side of your paradise!

[pipsxlch]

The larger one looks a bit like T. utriculada (sp.?) or big pine needle as I grew up calling them; I can see if I can get a picture of mine (picked up from deadfall) if Photobucket will cooperate.
If they ever flower, that will be the determinant I think.

Do you know if the previous owner was from somewhere on the mainland (like here in Fla.) that has native tillies, and brought them from home? Or know someone who'd know what types are commonly cultivated in your area? Maybe bring a couple plantlets to a nearby university or ag extension?