''Tillandsia erubescens'' Schlechtendal, Linnaea 18: 427-429. 1844. is a species of

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

plants of the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Tillandsia ''Tillandsia'' is a genus of around 650 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of northern Mexico and south-eastern United States, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to ...

''. This species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Mexico, found over much of the country from

Chihuahua Chihuahua may refer to: Places *Chihuahua (state), a Mexican state **Chihuahua (dog), a breed of dog named after the state **Chihuahua cheese, a type of cheese originating in the state **Chihuahua City, the capital city of the state **Chihuahua Mun ...

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> Three varieties are recognized: #''Tillandsia erubescens'' var. ''arroyoensis'' W.Weber & Ehlers - northeastern Mexico #''Tillandsia erubescens'' var. ''erubescens'' - much of Mexico #''Tillandsia erubescens'' var. ''patentibracteata'' W.Weber & Ehlers - Sinaloa

Cultivars

* ''Tillandsia'' 'Cherub' * ''Tillandsia'' 'Montoro'
Retrieved 11 October 2009

Uses

The

Pima Pima or PIMA may refer to: People * Pima people, the Akimel O'odham, Indigenous peoples in Arizona (U.S.) and Sonora (Mexico) Places * Pima, Arizona, a town in Graham County * Pima County, Arizona * Pima Canyon, in the Santa Catalina Mountains ...

of Mexico occasionally eat ''T. erubescens'' and ''

Tillandsia recurvata ''Tillandsia recurvata'', commonly known as small ballmoss or ball moss, is a flowering plant (not a true moss) in the family Bromeliaceae that grows upon larger host plants. It grows well in areas with low light, little airflow, and high humidit ...

'' flowers due to their high sugar content.

References

erubescens Endemic flora of Mexico Plants described in 1845 Epiphytes {{Tillandsia-stub