The leathery leaves of Tillandsia plants

All plants have foliage adapted to their environment. Many Tillandsia species thrive in harsh conditions: their aerial growth exposes them to the wind and sometimes to direct sunlight, and in most cases, they have no way of absorbing water from the soil as the majority of plants do.

This is why these species develop foliage that can be extremely tough – that is to say**, fleshy, hard and sturdy!** Shown above, Tillandsia latifolia has all these characteristics: fleshy, hard leaves covered in the scales typical of Tillandsias. Its habitat is certainly not the most hospitable for a plant, as it inhabits the rocky and sandy areas of the Peruvian coast, where the climate is arid.

In the lowlands, the plant therefore benefits from the night-time sea mist, whilst in the mountains, the ambient humidity is sufficient for it.