BRP Beauties: Barba de Pau

On the rafting route at Brasil Raft Park, the guides show us some natural gems that may appear on our path, and one of them is Barba de Pau.

The Woodbeard (Tillandsia usneoides) looks like a white hair that intertwines with branches, trunks, fence wires or any support that allows it to capture sunlight and air humidity. It is an epiphytic plant, that is, it supports itself on other plants without being a parasite. But even though it is supported by others, the pau de pau is a superior plant, as it produces flowers, seeds and fruit. The forests that form on the banks of rivers and streams, canyons or other places with an abundance of water, whether from rain or air humidity, are the preferred locations for this plant.

As they do not attach themselves to the soil, all the water they need is extracted from the air, whether from humidity or rain, since from water, carbon dioxide and energy from the sun, they make photosynthesis, that is, their organic food.

This is why Barba de Pau is considered a bio-indicator plant for air quality, occurring only in those places with little or no atmospheric pollution load.

This means that where there is Barba de Pau, it has an air of good quality. So gather your friends and come breathe some fresh air here at  Brasil Raft Park!