Descriptive Flora 



61 



cept for one large, parallel- veined, shiny leaf, that is 6 — 8" long, 

 strongly 2-lobed at base and from 2 to 10" below the flower. 

 Perianth bluish-purple, 6-lobed, with two yellow spots on the 

 uppermost middle lobe. Blossoms throughout the summer. 

 Common in the San Antonio River where it flows through Brack- 

 enridge Park. Related to the floating water-hyacinth, Piaropus 

 crassipes, which floats by its inflated bladder-like leaf-stalks. 

 Also seen in Brackenridge Park. 



BROMELIACEA. Pine-Apple Family. 

 Tillandsia recur vaia L. Ball Moss. Bunch Moss. 



Epiphytes that form silvery-grey rounded bunches, 2 — 5" 

 across, commonly on the branches of live oaks, mesquites and 

 elms. Leaves linear, ash-colored, channeled, recurved, 1—3" 

 long, covered with a fuzzy scurf. Flower stalks slender, 1 — 5" 

 long, terminated by 1 or 2 flowers. Petals delicate lavender or 

 violet-blue, about V2" long, falling early. Sepals 3, persistent. 

 Stamens 6. Fruit slender, about 1" long. Blossoms in May and 

 June. This plant is commonly considered a parasite, as it is so 

 frequently seen on the dead branches of trees. The plant does 

 not take its nourishment from the branches as the roots do not 

 enter the cambium layer. An interesting account of this plant 

 is given in University Bulletin No. 194, The Anatomy and some 

 Biological Aspects of the * 4 Ball Moss" by Willie Birge. 



Tillandsia usmoides L. Spanish Moss Long Moss. 



(Dendropogon usneoides [L] Raf.) 



This is the common, ash-colored, apparently leafless plant 

 that hangs in festoons 1 — 9' long, from the branches of trees, 

 commonly live oaks. Stems string-like, silvery-scurfy, branching 

 and pendulous. Leaves thread-like, scattered, covered with 

 silvery-grey scales. Flowers fragrant, yellow, solitary on short 

 peduncles, seldom noticed. Sepals 3. Petals 3, yellow or 

 greenish. Used for Christmas decorations. Woven into clothing 



