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Tillandsia caput-medusae [Octopus Plant]


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Hornblende

Viala, M. (2017) Tillandsia caput-medusae E.Morren (Bromeliaceae) Octopus Plant. Flowers photographed in visible, ultraviolet, infrared light and simulated bee vision. http://www.ultraviol...-octopus-plant/

 

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

3 July 2017

Cultivar(?) from florist store

 

Other Common Names

  • Medusa's Head

Comment:

Tillandsia are epiphytic plants native from Central and South America. Their odd shape and easy cultivation makes them quite popular. The bloom are often very showy with bright red to pink bracts and elongated purple flowers with bright yellow anthers.

Like most Bromeliaceae Tillandsia die after flowering. Fortunately they systematically produce basal shoots.

The plant you can see here started as a tiny basal shoot from a mature, flowering parent I bought at a florist store 2-3 years ago.

 

 

Equipment [Canon 6D full spectrum + EL-Nikkor 80mm f/5.6]

 

 

Visible Light: [f/16 for 1/160" @ISO100 in sunlight with Lifepixel UVIR-block filter - white balance on white PTFE]

post-136-0-03867800-1499454461.jpg

 

Ultraviolet Light: [f/22 for 6" @ISO800 - in sunlight with Baader UV-pass filter - white balance on white PTFE]

post-136-0-18866400-1499454500.jpg

 

Close-up in Ultraviolet Light: [same UV settings]

post-136-0-98212300-1499454899.jpg

 

Infrared Light: [f/22 for 1/13" @ISO100 - in sunlight with Lifepixel IR-pass filter (830nm) - monochromatic image]

post-136-0-24737500-1499454465.jpg

 

Simulated Bee Vision [uV to blue channel, blue to green channel and green to red channel]:

post-136-0-24057100-1499454463.jpg

 

Reference:

 

1. Isley, P. T. (1987). Tillandsia. The world's most unusual air plants (pp. 206-39). Gardena, California.: Botanical Press. https://www.goodread...5219-tillandsia

 

 

[Published 7 July 2017]

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What an interesting plant!!!

I have seen these before, but never in bloom.

 

Many red flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds or other birds. I wonder if the pollinator for this Tillandsia is known?

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