air plant

An air plant, also known as an epiphyte, is a plant that obtains its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain, rather than from soil. These plants typically grow on other plants but do not parasitize them.

The genus Tillandsia, belonging to the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae), contains about 500 species of tropical American air plants. These plants are primarily perennial herbs with aerial roots exposed to the atmosphere. Some Tillandsia species have leaves that form a cup to collect rainwater, and their flowers can be showy or inconspicuous. For example, Spanish moss is sometimes used for packing, and T. xiphoides has scented flowers used in traditional medicine.12