PlantMap
← Back to list

Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L.

Ballmoss

Native records: 44 botanical areas

Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, 41 more areas

See all areas

Natural distribution

Explore map
NativeIntroducedUncertain

Distribution is shown as WGSRPD Level 3 areas. It does not imply the species occurs throughout an entire area.

Last updated:

Distribution last verified:

See sources

Photograph of Tillandsia recurvata

An epiphyte of seasonally dry tropical climates. Native to Mexico, United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and elsewhere.

This entry carries only the classification and distribution data recorded in WCVP. A written account is not yet available.

Distribution areas

  • Anguilla

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Antigua and Barbuda

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Argentina

    • Argentina NortheastNative
    • Argentina NorthwestNative

  • Aruba

    • ArubaNative

  • Bahamas

    • BahamasNative

  • Barbados

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Bolivia, Plurinational State of

    • BoliviaNative

  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative
    • Netherlands AntillesNative

  • Brazil

    • Brazil NorthNative
    • Brazil NortheastNative
    • Brazil SouthNative
    • Brazil SoutheastNative
    • Brazil West-CentralNative

  • Cayman Islands

    • Cayman Is.Native

  • Chile

    • Chile NorthNative

  • Colombia

    • ColombiaNative

  • Cuba

    • CubaNative

  • Curaçao

    • Netherlands AntillesNative

  • Dominica

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Dominican Republic

    • Dominican RepublicNative

  • Ecuador

    • EcuadorNative

  • El Salvador

    • El SalvadorNative

  • Grenada

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Guadeloupe

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Guatemala

    • GuatemalaNative

  • Haiti

    • HaitiNative

  • Honduras

    • HondurasNative

  • Jamaica

    • JamaicaNative

  • Martinique

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Mexico

    • Mexico CentralNative
    • Mexico GulfNative
    • Mexico NortheastNative
    • Mexico NorthwestNative
    • Mexico SoutheastNative
    • Mexico SouthwestNative

  • Montserrat

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Nicaragua

    • NicaraguaNative

  • Paraguay

    • ParaguayNative

  • Peru

    • PeruNative

  • Puerto Rico

    • HaitiNative
    • Puerto RicoNative

  • Saint Barthélemy

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Saint Lucia

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Saint Martin (French part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    • Windward Is.Native

  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Turks and Caicos Islands

    • Turks-Caicos Is.Native

  • United States of America

    • ArizonaNative
    • FloridaNative
    • GeorgiaNative
    • LouisianaNative
    • New MexicoNative
    • TexasNative

  • Uruguay

    • UruguayNative

  • Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative
    • VenezuelaNative
    • Venezuelan AntillesNative

  • Virgin Islands (British)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)

    • Leeward Is. AB AntNative

Climate of the native range

The Köppen climate classes found in the areas this plant is recorded as native to. It does not mean an entire area has that climate.

  • Cfa Temperate, no dry season, hot summer
  • Aw Tropical, savannah
  • BSh Arid, steppe, hot
  • BWk Arid, desert, cold
  • Af Tropical, rainforest
  • BSk Arid, steppe, cold
  • Cwb Temperate, dry winter, warm summer
  • BWh Arid, desert, hot
  • Am Tropical, monsoon
  • Cfb Temperate, no dry season, warm summer
  • ET Polar, tundra
  • Cwa Temperate, dry winter, hot summer
  • Dfb Cold, no dry season, warm summer

The same climate occurs in 303 areas worldwide, 259 of which have no record of this plant. See them on the map

A matching climate does not mean the plant can grow there. Range limits are also set by things other than climate — dispersal history, soils, competition. Source: Beck et al. (2023), CC BY 4.0 (observed period 1991–2020).

Recorded medicinal uses

The cited source records medicinal use of this plant. It is not an assessment of efficacy or safety.

  • Tillandsia recurvata is recorded as used medicinally.

    Source location: p.83, left column, line 10

    World Checklist of Useful Plant Species · Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) · CC BY 4.0 · source version: wcups-2020-62602715

    Open source

Other names

Ballmoss、Old Man's Beard、Small ballmoss

Family
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Tillandsia

Other species in Tillandsia

Sources

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Aruba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Anguilla · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Argentina · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Antigua and Barbuda · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bahamas · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Barthélemy · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Bolivia, Plurinational State of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Brazil · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Barbados · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Chile · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Colombia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cuba · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Curaçao · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Cayman Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Dominican Republic · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Ecuador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guadeloupe · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Grenada · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Guatemala · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Honduras · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Haiti · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Jamaica · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Kitts and Nevis · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Lucia · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Martin (French part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Mexico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Montserrat · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Martinique · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Nicaragua · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Peru · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Puerto Rico · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Paraguay · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    El Salvador · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Turks and Caicos Islands · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Uruguay · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    United States of America · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (British) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

  • World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), version 2026-06-04

    Virgin Islands (U.S.) · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · wcvp_distribution.csv

    Open source

Image information