noun a genus of epiphytic endogenous plants found in the southern united states and in tropical america. tillandsia usneoides, called long moss, black moss, spanish moss, and florida moss, has a very slender pendulous branching stem, and forms great hanging tufts on the branches of trees. it is often used for stuffing mattresses.
2. tillandsia ·add. ·noun an immense genus of epiphytic bromeliaceous plants confined to tropical and subtropical america. they usually bear a rosette of narrow overlapping basal leaves, which often hold a considerable quantity of water. the spicate or paniculate flowers have free perianth segments, and are often subtended by colored bracts. also, a plant of this genus.