ballmoss
ExplorePlants
ballmoss
Tillandsia recurvata
Ballmoss is a tiny plant that loves to grow on trees and rocks. It looks like a little green ball and doesn't need soil to live. Instead, it gets water and nutrients from the air and rain!
Habitat: Forests, Urban areas, Desert
Appearance
The ballmoss is a fuzzy, grey-green plant forming round, tangled clumps. Its thin, curly leaves give it a moss-like appearance, but it's an 'air plant.' Tiny, inconspicuous pale green or blue flowers may appear among its foliage.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderPoalesFamilyBromeliaceaeGenusTillandsia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ballmoss can turn a bit reddish when it's very dry or getting lots of sun!
Ballmoss is an 'air plant' that doesn't need soil to grow!
It often grows on power lines, looking like fuzzy green ornaments!
Tiny insects and even spiders can live hidden inside ballmoss clumps!
Special abilities
Ability
Air Drinker
Ballmoss can absorb water and nutrients directly from the air using special scales on its leaves.
Ability
Gentle Grip
Ballmoss has tiny holdfasts that allow it to cling to surfaces without harming its host tree.
Ability
Wind Wanderer
Ballmoss produces light, fluffy seeds that are easily carried by the wind to new locations.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-30 cm
- Spread
- 5-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to Fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Wind
Ecological connections
depends on
Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Needs trees like this for support and height.
shelters
Bold Jumper
Phidippus audax
Small jumping spiders often hide within its clumps.
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Tiny flowers attract bees for nectar and pollen.
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Ballmoss is safe to touch, but be gentle when exploring plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is ballmoss?
5-30 cm
How wide does ballmoss spread?
5-30 cm
How big are the flowers on ballmoss?
0.5-1.5 cm
When does ballmoss bloom?
Spring to Fall
Is ballmoss edible?
No
Is ballmoss toxic?
None
What is ballmoss's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is ballmoss pollinated?
Wind
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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