''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> It is the type genus of the family

Bromeliaceae The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and grass-like flowering plants (angiosperms), the seeds of which typically contain o ...

, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are characterized by flowers with a deeply cleft

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

. The genus is named after the Swedish medical doctor and botanist (1639-1705).

Species

* ''

Bromelia agavifolia ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' Brongniart ex Houllet - French Guiana * '' Bromelia alsodes'' H. St. John - from Sinaloa south to Nicaragua * ''

Bromelia alta ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' L.B. Smith - Guyana and Suriname * ''

Bromelia antiacantha ''Bromelia antiacantha'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Brazil and Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South Amer ...

'' Bertoloni - Brazil, Uruguay * '' Bromelia araujoi'' P.J.Braun, Esteves & Scharf - Maranhão * ''

Bromelia arenaria ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is ''Bromelia karatas, B. karatas''. ''Bromelia' ...

'' Ule - Bahia * ''

Bromelia arubaiensis ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' P.L. Ibisch & R. Vásquez - Bolivia * ''

Bromelia auriculata ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' L.B. Smith - Ceará * ''

Bromelia balansae ''Bromelia balansae'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, and Paraguay where it grows at elevations of 150 to 3,000 feet. Description ''Bromelia balansae'' is a large te ...

'' Mez - Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay * ''

Bromelia binotii ''Bromelia binotii'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is endemic to Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and La ...

'' E. Morren ex Mez - Espírito Santo * ''

Bromelia braunii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' Leme & E. Esteves - Tocantins * ''

Bromelia charlesii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' P.J.Braun, Esteves & Scharf - Bahia * ''

Bromelia chrysantha ''Bromelia chrysantha'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Venezuela, Colombia, and Trinidad & Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost islan ...

'' Jacquin - Venezuela, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago * ''

Bromelia dilatata ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' Esteves, Hofacker & Scharf - Mato Grosso * ''

Bromelia eitenorum ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' L.B. Smith - Maranhão * ''

Bromelia epiphytica ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' L.B. Smith - Amazonas of Brazil * ''

Bromelia estevesii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' Leme - Piauí * ''

Bromelia exigua ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' Mez - Goiás * ''

Bromelia flemingii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' I. Ramírez & Carnevali - Aragua of Veenzuela * ''

Bromelia fosteriana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' L.B. Smith - Suriname * ''

Bromelia fragilis ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' L.B. Smith - Colombia * ''

Bromelia glaziovii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' Mez - Minas Gerais and Goiás * '' Bromelia goeldiana'' L.B. Smith - Venezuela and Brazil * '' Bromelia goyazensis'' Mez - Goiás * ''

Bromelia grandiflora ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' Mez - Brazil * '' Bromelia granvillei'' L.B. Smith & Gouda - French Guiana * ''

Bromelia gurkeniana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' E. Pereira & Moutinho ** var. ''funchiana'' E. Pereira & Leme -Bahia ** var. ''gurkeniana'' - Pará * '' Bromelia hemisphaerica'' Lam. - from Guanajuato south to Panama * ''

Bromelia hieronymi ''Bromelia hieronymi'' is a species of plant in the family Bromeliaceae native to South America. It is one of several plants used by the Wichí people as a fiber for weaving called ''chaguar {{distinguish, Jaguar Chaguar is the common name of se ...

'' Mez - Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina * ''

Bromelia horstii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' Rauh - Mato Grosso * ''

Bromelia humilis ''Bromelia humilis'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the C ...

'' Jacquin - Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, Netherlands Antilles * '' Bromelia ignaciana'' R. Vásquez & P.L. Ibisch - Bolivia * ''

Bromelia interior ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' L.B. Smith - Brazil * ''

Bromelia irwinii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' L.B. Smith - Goiás * ''

Bromelia karatas ''Bromelia karatas'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to West Indies and to Latin America from San Luis Potosí + Sinaloa south to Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of B ...

'' Linnaeus - West Indies; Latin America from San Luis Potosí + Sinaloa south to Brazil * ''

Bromelia laciniosa ''Bromelia laciniosa'', natively known as ''macambira'', is plant in the bromeliad family, or in other words, the pineapple family—though not all bromeliads resemble the common pineapple. ''Bromelia laciniosa'' is native to Brazil and Argentina ...

'' Martius ex Schultes f. - Brazil + Argentina * ''

Bromelia lagopus ''Bromelia lagopus'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their histo ...

'' Mez - Brazil * '' Bromelia legrellae'' (E. Morren) Mez - Pará * ''

Bromelia lindevaldae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' Leme & E. Esteves - Bahia * '' Bromelia macedoi'' L.B. Smith - Goiás * ''

Bromelia michaelii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are ch ...

'' Esteves, Hofacker & Scharf - Goiás * ''

Bromelia minima ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' Leme & E. Esteves - Goiás * '' Bromelia morreniana'' (Regel) Mez - northern Brazil * ''

Bromelia nidus-puellae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' (André) André ex Mez - Colombia * ''

Bromelia oliveirae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' L.B. Smith - Pará * ''

Bromelia palmeri ''Bromelia palmeri'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is endemic to southwestern Mexico, from Colima south to Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, ...

'' Mez - from Colima south to Oaxaca * '' Bromelia pinguin'' Linnaeus - West Indies; from Mexico to Ecuador and Suriname; naturalized in Florida * ''

Bromelia poeppigii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' Mez - Peru * '' Bromelia redoutei'' (Baker) L.B. Smith - described 1889; origin unknown; probably extinct * ''

Bromelia regnellii ''Bromelia regnellii'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their his ...

'' Mez - Brazil * ''

Bromelia reversacantha ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' Mez - Goiás * ''

Bromelia rondoniana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' L.B. Smith - Rondônia * ''

Bromelia scarlatina ''Bromelia scarlatina'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Ecuador. References * scarlatina Scarlet fever, also known as Scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by ''Streptococcus pyogenes'' a ...

'' (hortus ex Hérincq) E. Morren - Ecuador + Brazil * ''

Bromelia serra ''Bromelia serra'' is a species of plant in the family Bromeliaceae native to South America (Brazil, French Guiana, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina). It is one of several plants used by the Wichí people as a fiber for weaving called ''chaguar {{ ...

'' Grisebach - Brazil, French Guiana, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina * ''

Bromelia superba ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' Mez - Jamaica * ''

Bromelia sylvicola ''Bromelia sylvicola'' is a species of ''Bromelia ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type s ...

'' S. Moore - Mato Grosso * ''

Bromelia tarapotina ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' Ule - Peru * ''

Bromelia trianae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'' Mez - Colombia * ''

Bromelia tubulosa ''Bromelia tubulosa'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on t ...

'' L.B. Smith - Venezuela + Brazil * ''

Bromelia unaensis ''Bromelia unaensis'' is a species of ''Bromelia ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type sp ...

'' Leme & Scharf - Bahia * ''

Bromelia urbaniana ''Deinacanthon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and gra ...

'' (Mez) L.B.Sm. - Paraguay + Argentina * ''

Bromelia villosa ''Bromelia villosa'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Bolivia. References * villosa ''Villosa'' is a genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the family Unionidae The Unionidae are ...

'' Mez - Bolivia + Brazil

Cultivation and uses

The resistant fiber obtained from ''B. serra'' and ''B. hieronymi'', both known as

chaguar {{distinguish, Jaguar Chaguar is the common name of several related species of South American plants of the family Bromeliaceae, among them '' Bromelia serra'', '' Bromelia hieronymi'', '' Deinacanthon urbanianum'' and '' Pseudananas sagenarius'', ...

, is an essential component of the economy of the Wichí tribe in the semi-arid Gran Chaco region of Argentina. An 1841 publication described the fiber of silk grass (''

Bromelia karata ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are cha ...

'') as "equal in durability to our best bowstrings."

References

External links

List of Species at FCBS

BSI Genera Gallery
photos Bromeliaceae genera {{Bromelioideae-stub