IMPORTANT STEPS IN BROMELIAD MONITORING

HELPFUL HINTS FOR IDENTIFYING:
Tillandsia fasiculata:
  -tends to be smaller
  -has thinner more pointed leaves
  -grows in bunches/clusters
  -grayish green

Tillandsia utriculata:
  -tends to be larger
  -has wider leaves
  -grows alone/singular
  -greener than fasiculata


TAGGING THE BROMELIADS
-Use the tags given to you and write your team number on the tag.
-Place the tag on wire and put it in the ground by the trunk of the tree on the side farthest from the path. This way the tag is not easily visible, and no one will remove it.
-Make notes about the location of your tree on the data sheet, so you will be able to find it again easily.
  Example: Ten paces into the brush by the lichen sign.


MAKING FIELD NOTES ABOUT BROMELAIDS
-Make a DETAILED sketch of the tree so that the bromeliad's location is clear.
-Use a ruler to visually measure and estimate the approximate size of the bromeliad.
-Write comments on the data sheet about the bromeliad that give an idea of what you observed.
  Ex: The utriculata has died, but it appears to have a seed stalk, so this may be the cause.
  Ex: The fasiculata is effected by the weevil as evidenced by brown leaves and leaves on the ground.

-Rate the bromeliad's health using a scale of 1-3 with 3 being the healthiest.
  Ex: This bromeliad is rated a 2.5 because it has lots of brown leaves at the bottom.



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