Save Florida's native Bromeliads

[Johnalewis74]

Florida has 16 species of native bromeliads, many of which are restricted to the southern part of the state. Florida is at risk of losing some of its most unique plants forever, as an invasive, exotic pest weevil (Metamasius callizona) is destroying 5 of these native bromeliad species.
The weevil entered Florida in a shipment of bromeliads from Mexico, and by the time it was discovered in a nursery in 1989, it had become established in Broward county. It is now found in 16 counties in south Florida and is fast approaching the state's most rare, endangered bromeliad populations in the Everglades.

The Mexican bromeliad weevil kills the plants through the tunneling action of its immature stage (larvae), which may eat out the entire base, causing the plant to fall from the tree that supports it. The wevil prefers large mature plants, and the death of many of the breeding individuals quickly wipes out entire populations. Two species of once-abundant bromeliads (Tillandsia utriculata and Tillandsia fasciculata) have been placed on the state's list of endangered plant species as a direct result of distruction from the weevil.

The Save Florida's Native Bromeliads project is an attempt by the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies, the University of Florida, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to manage the weevil and conserve the bromeliad species at risk before the weevil is able to completely destroy them. The project's goals include both the immediate reduction in the damage being done by the weevil and the long-term protection of Florida's native bromeliad populations.

Florida's Native Bromeliads are:
1. Catopsis berteroniana; (West Indies catopsis, Powdery catopsis, mealy wild pine).
2. Catopsis floribunda; (many-flowered airplant, Florida catopsis).
3. Catopsis nutans; (Nodding airplant, nodding catopsis).
4. Guzmania monostachia; ( Fuchs' bromeliad, strap-leaved guzmania).
5. Tillandsia balbisiana (Inflated wild pine, reflexed wild pine, cuttlefish, Balbis airplant).
6. Tillandsia bartramii; (Tillandsia juncea, Tillandsia myriophylla).
7. Tillandsia fasciculata; (Quill-leaf airplant, common wild pine, clustered wild pine, dog-drink-water).
8. Tillandsia flexuosa; (Banded airplant, flexuous wild-pine, striped airplant).
9. Tillandsia paucifolia; (Tillandsia circinnata, Tillandsia bulbosa).
10. Tillandsia pruinosa; (Tillandsia breviscapa).
11. Tillandsia recurvata; (Diaphoranthema recurvata).
12. Tillandsia setacea; (Needle-leaf airplant, Tillandsia tenuifolia).
13. Tillandsia simulata; only found in Florida. (Broad needleaf).
14. Tillandsia usneoides; (Spanish moss, Dendropogon useoides).
15. Tillandsia utriculata; (Giant wild pine, swollen wild pine, spreading airplant).
16. Tillandsia variabilis; (Leatherleaf airplant, Tillandsia valenzuelana).
The following two plants are naturial hybrid's.
1. Bartramii x fasciculata. This is natural hybrid of Tillandsia bartramii and Tillandsia fasciculata.
2. Balbisiana x fasciculata. This is a natural hybrid of Tillandsia balbisiana (northern needleaf) and Tillandsia fasciculata (cardinal airplant).

If you would like more information on this topic, please visit the website of the University of Florida at:http://savebromeliads.ifas.ufl.edu/

http://www.freewebs.com/jacksbromeliads/

[MrSeedy]

It's very unfortunate that at this day and age and despite knowing for years of the risks of importing very destructive bugs, it seems even the best efforts of quaranteening plants and spraying them etc. doesn't seem to solve that problem, but I would hate to see all imports banned entirely , and there is such a wealth of "exotic" plants to add to our gardens. I wonder perhaps if those weren't in an illegal shipment perhaps, that was smuggled in and that still happens perhaps. Oh well, but I do hope the efforts to save those plants succeeds.

[Rich]

These illegal immigrants are everywhere. It is a concern though, any idea how thet plan to irradicate them?

[Johnalewis74]

It's very unfortunate that at this day and age and despite knowing for years of the risks of importing very destructive bugs, it seems even the best efforts of quaranteening plants and spraying them etc. doesn't seem to solve that problem, but I would hate to see all imports banned entirely , and there is such a wealth of "exotic" plants to add to our gardens. I wonder perhaps if those weren't in an illegal shipment perhaps, that was smuggled in and that still happens perhaps. Oh well, but I do hope the efforts to save those plants succeeds.
It would seem that if people would be patient enough to wait for seeds to develop, that alone would cut down on the imported pest problems. I too, want instant instant gratification from new plants, but this method of commercial growers to mass import without the proper documents is rampent here in Florida.
I'm not going to name any names here, but you may remember a few years ago, a gentleman working for the Nationaly known Selby Gardens, was caught trying to import an illegal orchid from South America. The only reason he did this was the notary of having a orchid named after him. It hurt Selby quite a bit, just the endorsments alone, caused embarasments still felt today. An organization like Selby, caught with their pants down, explains a lot about the "money" aspect of exotic plants.
Importing exotic plants by means of "seeds" makes so much sense, that's why it will never happen.....

[MrSeedy]

I'm trying to remember the name of a somewhat recent movie about an orchid colletor , who'd remove protected and very rare orchids for resale to collectors, and it was an interesting movie, Did point out the continuing problem though of the continued trade in exotic and protected plant species, though as I recall in a post I read somewhere, it claimed that even growing seed grown ones not collected from the wild is still considered illegal in Florida in some cases, even if you're growing them to help preserve the species. Didn't make sense to me, unless they were collecting wild seeds of course!

[Johnalewis74]

I'm trying to remember the name of a somewhat recent movie about an orchid colletor , who'd remove protected and very rare orchids for resale to collectors, and it was an interesting movie, Did point out the continuing problem though of the continued trade in exotic and protected plant species, though as I recall in a post I read somewhere, it claimed that even growing seed grown ones not collected from the wild is still considered illegal in Florida in some cases, even if you're growing them to help preserve the species. Didn't make sense to me, unless they were collecting wild seeds of course!
Hi Mr. Seedy,
I rember the movie vwry well, it was in fact based on the incendent that happened at Selby Gardens down in Sarasota. The one thing it diden't mention was how much in fines and penatlies were.
Look at the Selby link here:Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (http://www.selby.org) I believe there's some info there on what happened........