''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...

and the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> It is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal f ...

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 Bromelioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliads ( Bromeliaceae). This subfamily is the most diverse, represented by the greatest number of genera with about 40. Most of the plants in this group are epiphytes, though some have evolved in, or will a ...

, and its

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are characterized by

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s with a deeply cleft calyx. 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 ''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' ...

'' 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'' 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'' 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'' 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'' Martius ex Schultes f. - Brazil + Argentina * '' Bromelia lagopus'' Mez - Brazil * '' Bromelia legrellae'' (E. Morren) Mez - Pará * '' Bromelia lindevaldae'' 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'' Leme & E. Esteves - Goiás * '' Bromelia morreniana'' (Regel) Mez - northern Brazil * '' Bromelia nidus-puellae'' (André) André ex Mez - Colombia * '' Bromelia oliveirae'' 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 ''Bromelia pinguin'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and northern South America. It is also reportedly naturalized in Florida. It is very common in Jamaica Ja ...

'' 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'' Mez - Brazil * '' Bromelia reversacantha'' Mez - Goiás * '' Bromelia rondoniana'' 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'' Mez - Jamaica * '' Bromelia sylvicola'' 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'' (Mez) L.B.Sm. - Paraguay + Argentina * '' Bromelia villosa'' Mez - Bolivia + Brazil

Cultivation and uses

The resistant

fiber Fiber or fibre (from la, fibra, links=no) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorporate ...

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 The Wichí are an indigenous people of South America. They are a large group of tribes ranging about the headwaters of the Bermejo River and the Pilcomayo River, in Argentina and Bolivia. Notes on designation This ethnic group was named by the E ...

tribe in the semi-arid

Gran Chaco The Gran Chaco or Dry Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semiarid lowland natural region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern Argentina, and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Gro ...

region of

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. 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