The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Conservation staff went in search of the West Indian Tufted Airplant (Guzmania monostachia) to collect seeds for FLPR (Florida Plant Rescue). Despite being a species present in horticultural trade, this epiphyte is state endangered in Florida and natural populations are present only in a few South Florida locations. In early May the team made the trek into a Big Cypress National Preserve cypress strand, with location information provided by NPS staff. After hiking into the preserve, the collectors came across a stand of trees covered in the airplant. The timing was excellent as many of the individuals had recently started to release seed. The trip yielded 14,690 seeds from 22 maternal plants.