Tillandsia balbisiana, commonly called Cuttlefish, is a native epiphytic bromeliad that grows attached to trees rather than in soil. 

Growth Form 

• Epiphytic (grows on tree bark, not parasitic)

• Forms loose clumps

• Anchored by specialized roots used mainly for attachment.

Leaves

• Long, narrow, and curling

• Gray-green in color

• Covered in tiny scales (trichomes)

• 8-18 inches long

• Flexible and arching

• The curled, twisting leaves resemble the shape of a cuttlefish, giving the plant its common name. Adaptations

• Absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air through leaf surfaces

• Trichomes help trap water from rain and humidity

• Does not harm host trees

Flowers

• Produced on an upright stalk

• Bracts often reddish or pinkish

• Tubular flowers, usually purple or violet

• Bloom seasonally

Fruit

• Small capsule

• Releases seeds with silky hairs

• Wind-dispersed