Tomas, pity they washed off in the first rain. I would have removed them - and yes they are upside-down - and spread them on the top and side of the branch, so that the seed end was flush with the branch. I do this occasionally, especially with tillandsia seed, then forget about them. Sometimes, years later, I see a small colony growing on - and get a real buzz. Sometimes, M.N. does it for me.

I'm not sure what you mean by some bromeliads "reseeding". I think you mean do some broms grow on from their own seed, all by themselves? If so, the answer is yes - and especially in their natural habitat where the conditions are perfect for them. Outside of their natural habitat, conditions need to replicate where it is from originally. Light,rain, humidity, and/or hand-misting, is necessary for the seeds to germinate. I will take a couple of photos of some T. gardneri and T.schiediana seedlings on branches in my garden, which got there with a little help from me, but then grew without extra assistance. Will post them when done so. I find the till seeds germinate better on the shadier side of the branch/trunk.

Here are a couple of photos of a garden in Queensland, where Mother Nature has done her job, after the owner, Margaret Paterson, had originally attached small clumps of various tillandsias several years ago. Many of those trees are now virtually covered by till seedlings - an amazing sight, especially in full bloom.

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And to think there is nary a brom native to this country!

Cheers,
Kerry

Hi Tomas. What you've got is nature at it's best. Survival of the fittest. Your seeds are not upside down per se, they just landed awkwardly on the branch. If you were to mist the seeds into place against the bark, their chance of germination increases a hundred-fold. The strands are called "coma hairs" or as us common folk call 'em; parachutes. They have tiny barbs that latch onto surfaces and from there other parachuted seeds get tangled up and form clumps waiting to germinate. I oftentimes find germinated seeds among my plants. Probably the easiest of the self-seeders are T. disticha and T crocata. Bergeri is a good one for easy germination too.

Kerry and Gonzer,

No pity, I was not interested in the seedlings of T. bergeri, it is a quite common plant here (very relative in a place where nearly no bromeliads are grown)and this tillandsia also needs some special care to flower here, a lot of sun and constant fertilizer. I think the M.N. wouldn't allow for them to grow on their own here, I suppose Gonzer's seedlings appear only in the area where he sprays for the other plants, the dry summer of the mediterranean climate is a limiting factor for epiphytic plants.
Yes, the trees with tillandsia are nice and impressive, but it also looks like it could become a serious weed? I just checked the AU inspection and quarantine site, looks like there are tons of tillandsias that are not considered such.
Tomas

Thanks for your concern, Tomas, but I doubt if the tillandsias would take over, like a weed. Those tillandsia-covered trees are on a private property, and seem isolated to me. The seeds don't fly far, and remain within that specific space.
I have never seen any bromeliads take over like a weed in my limited travels within Australia.
But maybe in northern Queensland??? Have you been concerned "aroideana"?

Cheers,
Kerry

I agree with Kerry. Here in Southwest Florida, in spite of growing a variety of Tillandsias, such as capitata,concolor and streptophylla, only the native tillandsias that have been growing here such as utriculata, fasciculata, recurvata, usneoides have become pests in some areas. After storms, I have to spend hours raking recurvata and baby utriculata up from the ground.
Within screen enclosures, we frequently find seedlings sprouting everywhere. MN seems to have a handle on non-natives. Unfortunately, I can't say the same with plants of the genus Bromelia. People have discarded these plants in empty fields here in Florida and now we have a dangerous problem in some areas.
A word to Kerry and to other bromeliad enthusiasts in Australia.
I am the Show Chairman for the Bromeliad Society International's World Bromeliad Conference in Cairns in June. I am working closely with Bob and Lynn Hudson, the Conference Chairs. Are you going to be able to attend the WBC? I'm going to be in Cairns for about 10 days and was continuing on to Brisbane to see Olive and Len and then Perth. I hope I can get to meet you while I'm there. I know they are looking for workers for the Show. If you would like, I can get you in touch with some of the Chairpersons, who could use your help. This applies to others attending the conference. Thanks, DrLarry

Kerry, those trees in Margaret Paterson's garden are amazing! How long ago would 'originally' mean? One lifetime seems to be to little time to achieve something like that, taken the time that Tillandsia's grow from seed! Thanks for sharing that!

Japie

I have heard stories about colonies of 'Bromeliads' being found up on Mt Lewis and surrounding national Park areas .
But not what sort of bromeliad . I know there are several large collections being grown around this massive area .
I have seen a few colonies of various Tillandsia spp. growing wild on Peter Sargents place in Whynabeel . And at the last conference in Cairns Jim Waite talked about weedy Tillandsia spp.
Personally I could not imagine any problem with wild bromeliads , it's only the native 'nazis' that whinge .

Kerry, per chance are those tills T. juncea?

Sorry for taking so long to respond. I tried emailing Margaret and Bill Paterson, asking them to identify the tills, and how long they had been there, but I have not heard back from them. They must be busy, or away.

So I'll try to answer to the best of my knowledge.

Japie - I think the Patersons have lived on that property for about 20+ years. Margaret has been growing and hybridising broms, especially tillandsia, cryptanthus and neoregelia, for over 40 years. So those clumps have grown in far less than a lifetime. I am amazed and impressed as well!

Gonzer - There probably is T. juncea there - it grows abundantly in my garden too. I think the densely-clumped ones might be T. schiedeana?

Dr Larry - pleased to hear from you. Thank you, I also look forward to meeting you in Cairns, which no-one could keep me away from! I am happy to help out at the conference, as I'm sure will many others. I will be in Cairns for 7 days, then flying back to Brisbane, before a further drive home 3 hours south. Have you visited Olive and Len before? They have a massive brom nursery, and are very hospitable, so I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. You have a long trek then over to Perth - visiting Geoff Lawn? My email address is accessible on "My Page", if you want to discuss how I may help at the conference, or even arrange to visit my humble abode, where you are very welcome.

Aroideana Mick - thanks for that back up. And I know what you mean about the "native nazis" - those purists who only want Australian endemic natives cultivated, and boo-hoo all exotics - ho hum..... I'd rather be multi-culturally blessed!

Cheers,
Kerry

In regard to the seeds being on the lower part of the branch - some years ago, while visiting Myakka River State Park near Sarasota, FL, I noticed nearly all the native Tillandsias had their attachment point on the lower half of the live oak branches. Several botanists who had done extensive field work with bromeliads, when I contacted them, agreed this was pretty much the norm. My conjecture is that the seedlings need some protection from full sun and possibly hard rain. I did publish an article about this in the BSI Journal, V. 53, #1, pp. 37-39 (2003).

Surprise!

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I just found them when throwing away some dry branches I cut of the bauhinia where the seeds were originally attached, so unfortunately I do not know in what position they survived.

I am posting also a picture of the mother plant, it has never flowered so abundantely, 7 spikes! Wow!

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Tomas