Tillandsia aeranthos

Native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, this evergreen perennial air plant in the bromeliad family grows on trees and forms clumps of narrow, gray-green leaves. It uses its host for support without taking food from it. Tiny scales on the leaves absorb water and dissolved minerals and help limit water loss when conditions turn dry. Small dark blue flowers emerge from pink bracts. It can be propagated by seed or by separating offsets. Individual rosettes die after flowering, while new offsets continue the clump. Photographed in Florida.