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The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a
family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
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 only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. They constitute one ...
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...
s of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the
tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America, North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. ...
, with several species found in the American
subtropics The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° nort ...
and one in tropical
west Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali ...
, '' Pitcairnia feliciana''. It is among the basal families within the
Poales The Poales are a large order of flowering plants in the monocotyledons, and includes families of plants such as the grasses, bromeliads, and sedges. Sixteen plant families are currently recognized by botanists to be part of Poales. Descriptio ...
and is the only family within the order that has
septal nectaries Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualis ...
and inferior ovaries.Judd, Walter S. Plant systematics a phylogenetic approach. 3rd ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc., 2007. These inferior ovaries characterize the Bromelioideae, a subfamily of the Bromeliaceae. The family includes both
epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
s, such as Spanish moss ('' Tillandsia usneoides''), and terrestrial species, such as the
pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuri ...
(''
Ananas comosus ''Ananas'' is a plant genus in the family Bromeliaceae. It is native to South America. The genus contains ''Ananas comosus'', the pineapple. Species The genus ''Ananas'' includes only two species: Gallery File:Pineapple.plantation.jpg, Pinea ...
''). Many bromeliads are able to store water in a structure formed by their tightly overlapping
leaf A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ...
bases. However, the family is diverse enough to include the tank bromeliads, grey-leaved
epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
'' Tillandsia'' species that gather water only from leaf structures called
trichome Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a p ...
s, and many desert-dwelling
succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
s. The largest bromeliad is '' Puya raimondii'', which reaches tall in vegetative growth with a flower spike tall, and the smallest is Spanish moss.


Description

Bromeliads are mostly
herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition o ...
perennials A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...
, although a few have a more tree-like habit. Many are more or less
succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
or have other adaptations to resist drought. They may be terrestrial or epiphytic, rarely climbing (e.g. '' Pitcairnia'' species). Some species of '' Tillandsia'' (e.g. Spanish moss, ''Tillandsia usneoides'') are aerophytes, which have very reduced root systems and absorb water directly from the air. Many terrestrial and epiphytic bromeliads have their leaves in the form of vase-shaped rosettes which accumulate water. Individual leaves are not divided and have parallel veins without cross connections. The epidermis of the leaf contains silica. Bromeliad flowers are aggregated into
inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are forme ...
s of various forms. The flowers have bracts, often brightly coloured, and distinct calyces of three
sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...
s and corollas of three
petal Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usuall ...
s. The flowers have
nectaries Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualist ...
. They are
pollinated Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...
by insects, birds (often
hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the Family (biology), biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genus, genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are ...
s) or bats, or more rarely (in '' Navia'') they are wind-pollinated. Fruits are variable, typically taking the form of a capsule or a berry. Bromeliads are able to live in an array of environmental conditions due to their many adaptations.
Trichome Trichomes (); ) are fine outgrowths or appendages on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. They are of diverse structure and function. Examples are hairs, glandular hairs, scales, and papillae. A covering of any kind of hair on a p ...
s, in the form of scales or hairs, allow bromeliads to capture water in cloud forests and help to reflect sunlight in desert environments. Bromeliads with leaf vases can capture water and nutrients in the absence of a well-developed root system. Many bromeliads also use
crassulacean acid metabolism Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions that allows a plant to photosynthesize during the day, but only exchange gases at night. ...
(CAM)
photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored in ...
to create sugars. This adaptation allows bromeliads in hot or dry climates to open their
stoma In botany, a stoma (from Greek ''στόμα'', "mouth", plural "stomata"), also called a stomate (plural "stomates"), is a pore found in the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other organs, that controls the rate of gas exchange. The pore is bo ...
ta at night rather than during the day, which reduces water loss. Both CAM and epiphytism have evolved multiple times within the family, with some taxa reverting to
C3 photosynthesis carbon fixation is the most common of three metabolic pathways for carbon fixation in photosynthesis, along with and CAM. This process converts carbon dioxide and ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP, a 5-carbon sugar) into two molecules of 3-phosph ...
as they radiated into less arid climates.


Evolution

Bromeliads are among the more recent plant groups to have emerged. They are thought to have originated in the
tepui A tepui , or tepuy (), is a table-top mountain or mesa found in South America, especially in Venezuela and western Guyana. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gra ...
s of the
Guiana Shield The Guiana Shield (french: Plateau des Guyanes, Bouclier guyanais; nl, Hoogland van Guyana, Guianaschild; pt, Planalto das Guianas, Escudo das Guianas; es, Escudo guayanés) is one of the three cratons of the South American Plate. It is a ...
approximately 100 million years ago. The greatest number of extant basal species are found in the
Andean The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S l ...
highlands of South America. However, the family did not diverge into its extant subfamilies until 19 million years ago. The long period between the origin and diversification of bromeliads, during which no extant species evolved, suggests that there was much
speciation Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. The biologist Orator F. Cook coined the term in 1906 for cladogenesis, the splitting of lineages, as opposed to anagenesis, phyletic evolution withi ...
and extinction during that time, which would explain the genetic distance of the Bromeliaceae from other families within the Poales. Based on
molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
studies, the family is divided into eight subfamilies. The relationship among them is shown in the following
cladogram A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to ...
. The most basal genus, ''
Brocchinia ''Brocchinia'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, and is the sole genus of the subfamily Brocchinioideae, containing 20 species. The genus is named for Giovanni Battista Brocchi, Italian naturalist (1772–1826). ''Brocchinia'' sp ...
'' (subfamily Brocchinioideae), is endemic to the Guiana Shield, and is placed as the
sister group In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and ...
to the remaining
genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
in the family. The subfamilies
Lindmanioideae Lindmanioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae. It contains two genera, which were formerly placed in a more broadly defined subfamily Pitcairnioideae Pitcairnioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae. Tr ...
and Navioideae are endemic to the Guiana Shield as well. The
West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali ...
n species '' Pitcairnia feliciana'' is the only bromeliad not
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to the Americas, and is thought to have reached Africa via long-distance dispersal about 12 million years ago.


Radiation of Tillandsioideae and ''Hechtia''

The first groups to leave the Guiana Shield were the subfamily
Tillandsioideae Tillandsioideae is a subfamily of plants in the bromeliad family Bromeliaceae. This subfamily contains the greatest number of species (about 1,400). Most are epiphytic or lithophytic, growing in trees or on rocks where they absorb water and nu ...
, which spread gradually into northern South America, and the genus '' Hechtia'' (Hechtioideae), which spread to Central America via long-distance dispersal. Both of these movements occurred approximately 15.4 million years ago. When it reached the Andes mountains, the speciation of Tillandsioideae occurred quite rapidly, largely due to the Andean uplift, which was also occurring rapidly from 14.2 to 8.7 million years ago. The uplift greatly altered the region's geological and climatic conditions, creating a new mountainous environment for the epiphytic tillandsioids to colonize. These new conditions directly drove the speciation of the Tillandsioideae, and also drove the speciation of their animal pollinators, such as
hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the Family (biology), biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genus, genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are ...
s.


Evolution of the Bromelioideae

Around 5.5 million years ago, a clade of epiphytic bromelioids arose in
Serra do Mar The Serra do Mar (, Portuguese for ''Sea's Ridge'' or ''Sea Ridge'') is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil. Geography The Serra do Mar runs parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast from the state ...
, a lush mountainous region on the coast of Southeastern Brazil. This is thought to have been caused not only by the uplift of Serra do Mar itself at that time, but also because of the continued uplift of the distant Andes mountains, which impacted the circulation of air and created a cooler, wetter climate in Serra do Mar. These epiphytes thrived in this humid environment, since their trichomes rely on water in the air rather than from the ground like terrestrial plants. Many epiphytic bromeliads with the tank habit also speciated here. Even before this, a few other bromelioids had already dispersed to the Brazilian shield while the climate was still arid, likely through a gradual process of short-distance dispersal. These make up the terrestrial members of the Bromelioideae, which have highly xeromorphic characters.


Classification

The family Bromeliaceae is currently placed in the order
Poales The Poales are a large order of flowering plants in the monocotyledons, and includes families of plants such as the grasses, bromeliads, and sedges. Sixteen plant families are currently recognized by botanists to be part of Poales. Descriptio ...
.


Subfamilies

The family Bromeliaceae is organized into eight subfamilies: *
Brocchinioideae ''Brocchinia'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, and is the sole genus of the subfamily Brocchinioideae, containing 20 species. The genus is named for Giovanni Battista Brocchi, Italian naturalist (1772–1826). ''Brocchinia'' s ...
*
Lindmanioideae Lindmanioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae. It contains two genera, which were formerly placed in a more broadly defined subfamily Pitcairnioideae Pitcairnioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae. Tr ...
*
Tillandsioideae Tillandsioideae is a subfamily of plants in the bromeliad family Bromeliaceae. This subfamily contains the greatest number of species (about 1,400). Most are epiphytic or lithophytic, growing in trees or on rocks where they absorb water and nu ...
*
Hechtioideae ''Hechtia'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, and is the sole genus of the subfamily Hechtioideae, containing 75 species. Its species are native to Mexico, Central America, and Texas. The genus is named for Julius Gottfried C ...
* Navioideae *
Pitcairnioideae Pitcairnioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae. Traditionally, it was a large subfamily, comprising all those species with winged or more rarely naked seeds. Molecular phylogenetic studies showed that traditional Pitcairnioi ...
*
Puyoideae ''Puya'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. It is the sole genus of the subfamily Puyoideae, and is composed of 226 species. These terrestrial plants are native to the Andes Mountains of South America and southern Central Ameri ...
* Bromelioideae Bromeliaceae were originally split into three subfamilies based on morphological seed characters: Bromelioideae (seeds in
baccate In botany, a berry is a fleshy fruit without a stone (pit) produced from a single flower containing one ovary. Berries so defined include grapes, currants, and tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, eggplants (aubergines) and bananas, but exclude ...
fruits), Tillandsioideae (plumose seeds), and Pitcairnioideae (seeds with wing-like appendages). However, molecular evidence has revealed that while Bromelioideae and Tillandsioideae are monophyletic, Pitcairnioideae as traditionally defined is
paraphyletic In taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be paraphyletic ''with respect to'' the excluded subgroups. In ...
and should be split into six subfamilies: Brocchinioideae, Lindmanioideae, Hechtioideae, Navioideae, Pitcairnioideae, and Puyoideae. Brocchinioideae is defined as the most basal branch of Bromeliaceae based on both morphological and molecular evidence, namely genes in chloroplast DNA. Lindmanioideae is the next most basal branch distinguished from the other subfamilies by convolute sepals and chloroplast DNA. Hechtioideae is also defined based on analyses of chloroplast DNA; similar morphological adaptations to arid environments also found in other groups (namely the genus ''
Puya Puya may refer to: * ''Puya'' (plant), in the family Bromeliaceae * Puya (river), in Russia * Puya, a variety of Guajillo chili * ''Puya'' (Meitei texts), traditional or mythological texts of the Meetei people * '' Culoepuya'' or ''Culo'e Puya'' ...
)'' are attributed to
convergent evolution Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last com ...
. Navioideae is split from Pitcairnioideae based on its cochlear sepals and chloroplast DNA. Puyoideae has been re-classified multiple times and its monophyly remains controversial according to analyses of chloroplast DNA.


Genera

,
Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
(PoWO) accepted 72 genera, as listed below. A few more genera were accepted by the Encyclopaedia of Bromeliads, including ''Josemania'' and ''Mezobromelia'', which PoWO sinks into ''Cipuropsis''. *''
Acanthostachys ''Acanthostachys'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus name is from the Greek “acanthos” (thorny, spiny) and “stachys” (a flower spike). Species There are three known species, all endemic ...
''
Klotzsch Johann Friedrich Klotzsch (9 June 1805 – 5 November 1860) was a German pharmacist and botanist. His principal work was in the field of mycology, with the study and description of many species of mushroom. Klotzsch was born in Wittenberg. Orig ...
*''
Aechmea ''Aechmea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae (subfamily Bromelioideae). The name comes from the Greek ''aichme'', meaning "spear". Suggested pronunciations include and . ''Aechmea'' comprises eight subgenera and around ...
''
Ruiz The Spanish surname Ruiz originates from the Germanic personal name "Hrodric" which is composed of the elements "Hrōd", meaning "renown", and "rīc", meaning "power(ful)", thus "famous ruler". Ruiz is a patronymic from the personal name Ruy, a sho ...
& Pav.
*'' Alcantarea'' Harms *''
Ananas ''Ananas'' is a plant genus in the family Bromeliaceae. It is native to South America. The genus contains ''Ananas comosus'', the pineapple. Species The genus ''Ananas'' includes only two species: Gallery File:Pineapple.plantation.jpg, Pine ...
''
Mill. Philip Miller FRS (1691 – 18 December 1771) was an English botanist and gardener of Scottish descent. Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden for nearly 50 years from 1722, and wrote the highly popular ''The Gardeners Dictio ...
, including ''Pseudananas'' Hassl. ex Harms (includes the
pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuri ...
) *'' Androlepis'' Brongn. ex Houllet *'' Araeococcus'' Brongn. *'' Barfussia'' Manzan. & W.Till *'' Billbergia'' Thunb. *'' Brewcaria'' L.B.Sm.,
Steyerm. Julian Alfred Steyermark (January 27, 1909 – October 15, 1988) was a Venezuelan American botanist. His focus was on New World vegetation, and he specialized in the family Rubiaceae. Life and work Julian Alfred Steyermark was born in St. Louis, ...
& H.Rob
, synonym of ''Navia'' in PoWO *''
Brocchinia ''Brocchinia'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, and is the sole genus of the subfamily Brocchinioideae, containing 20 species. The genus is named for Giovanni Battista Brocchi, Italian naturalist (1772–1826). ''Brocchinia'' sp ...
''
Schult.f. Julius Hermann Schultes (4 February 1804 in Vienna – 1 September 1840 in Munich) was an Austrian botanist from Vienna. He co-authored volume 7 of the Roemer & Schultes edition of the ''Systema Vegetabilium'' with his father Josef August Sc ...
*'' Bromelia'' L. *''
Canistropsis ''Canistropsis'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus name is from the genus ''Canistrum'' and the Greek “opsis” (resembling). All 11 species of this genus are endemic Endemism is the stat ...
'' (Mez) Leme *''
Canistrum ''Canistrum'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus names are from the Greek “kanistron” (a kind of basket carried on the head). This bromeliad genus is endemic Endemism is the state of a ...
'' E.Morren *''
Catopsis ''Catopsis'' is a genus in the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. The genus name is from the Greek “kata” (hanging down) and “opsis” (appearance). ''Catopsis'' is a genus of plants widespread across much of Latin Am ...
''
Griseb. August Heinrich Rudolf Grisebach () was a German botanist and phytogeographer. He was born in Hannover on 17 April 1814 and died in Göttingen on 9 May 1879. Biography Grisebach studied at the Lyceum in Hanover, the cloister-school at Ilfeld, ...
*'' Cipuropsis''
Ule Ule is a German surname. It may refer to: *Ernst Heinrich Georg Ule (1854–1915), German botanist and explorer *Otto Eduard Vincenz Ule (1820–1876), German natural science writer *Wilhelm Ule Wilhelm Ule, sometimes referred to as Willi Ule (9 ...
*'' Connellia'' N.E.Br. *'' Cottendorfia''
Schult.f. Julius Hermann Schultes (4 February 1804 in Vienna – 1 September 1840 in Munich) was an Austrian botanist from Vienna. He co-authored volume 7 of the Roemer & Schultes edition of the ''Systema Vegetabilium'' with his father Josef August Sc ...
*''
Cryptanthus ''Cryptanthus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus name is from the Greek ''cryptos'' (hidden) and ''anthos'' (flower). The genus formerly had two recognized subgenera: the type subgenus ...
'' Otto & A.Dietr. *''
Deinacanthon ''Deinacanthon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae Bromelioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliads (Bromeliaceae). This subfamily is the most diverse, represented by the greatest number of genera ...
'' Mez *''
Deuterocohnia ''Deuterocohnia'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae, endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other ...
'' Mez *''
Disteganthus ''Disteganthus'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus name is from the Greek “dis” (two), “steg” (covering), and “anthos” (flower). They are considered a primitive genus among bromeliads ...
'' Lem. *''
Dyckia ''Dyckia'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. The genus is named after the Prussian botanist, botanical artist and horticulturist The Prince and Earl of Salm Reifferscheid-Dyck (1773–1861). Dyckias, wi ...
''
Schult.f. Julius Hermann Schultes (4 February 1804 in Vienna – 1 September 1840 in Munich) was an Austrian botanist from Vienna. He co-authored volume 7 of the Roemer & Schultes edition of the ''Systema Vegetabilium'' with his father Josef August Sc ...
*'' Edmundoa'' Leme *'' Eduandrea'' Leme, W.Till, G.K.Br., J.R.Grant & Govaerts *''
Encholirium ''Encholirium'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. The entire genus is endemic to Brazil. The genus name is from the Greek “enchos” (spear) and “leiron” (lily). This genus occur exclusively in ari ...
''
Mart. Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedrich Philipp) von Martius (17 April 1794 – 13 December 1868) was a German botanist and explorer. Life Martius was born at Erlangen, the son of Prof Ernst Wilhelm Martius, court apothecary. He graduated PhD f ...
ex
Schult.f. Julius Hermann Schultes (4 February 1804 in Vienna – 1 September 1840 in Munich) was an Austrian botanist from Vienna. He co-authored volume 7 of the Roemer & Schultes edition of the ''Systema Vegetabilium'' with his father Josef August Sc ...
*'' Fascicularia'' Mez *'' Fernseea''
Baker A baker is a tradesperson who baking, bakes and sometimes Sales, sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. History Ancient history Si ...
*'' Forzzaea'' Leme, S.Heller & Zizka *'' Fosterella'' L.B.Sm. *'' Glomeropitcairnia'' Mez *'' Goudaea'' W.Till & Barfuss *'' Gregbrownia'' W.Till & Barfuss *'' Greigia'' Regel *'' Guzmania''
Ruiz The Spanish surname Ruiz originates from the Germanic personal name "Hrodric" which is composed of the elements "Hrōd", meaning "renown", and "rīc", meaning "power(ful)", thus "famous ruler". Ruiz is a patronymic from the personal name Ruy, a sho ...
& Pav.
*'' Hechtia''
Klotzsch Johann Friedrich Klotzsch (9 June 1805 – 5 November 1860) was a German pharmacist and botanist. His principal work was in the field of mycology, with the study and description of many species of mushroom. Klotzsch was born in Wittenberg. Orig ...
*'' Hohenbergia''
Schult.f. Julius Hermann Schultes (4 February 1804 in Vienna – 1 September 1840 in Munich) was an Austrian botanist from Vienna. He co-authored volume 7 of the Roemer & Schultes edition of the ''Systema Vegetabilium'' with his father Josef August Sc ...
*'' Hohenbergiopsis'' L.B.Sm. & Read *'' Hoplocryptanthus'' (Mez) Leme, S.Heller & Zizka *''
Hylaeaicum ''Hylaeaicum'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae, native to tropical northern South America. The taxon was first described by Ernst Heinrich Georg Ule in 1935 as a subgenus of "''Aregelia''" (an illegitimate genus name). I ...
'' (Ule ex Mez) Leme, Forzza, Zizka & Aguirre-Santoro *'' Jagrantia'' Barfuss & W.Till *'' Josemania'' W.Till & Barfuss *'' Karawata'' J.R.Maciel & G.M.Sousa *'' Lapanthus'' Louzada & Versieux *'' Lemeltonia'' Barfuss & W.Till *'' Lindmania'' Mez *'' Lutheria'' Barfuss & W.Till *'' Lymania'' Read *'' Mezobromelia'' L.B.Sm. *'' Navia''
Schult.f. Julius Hermann Schultes (4 February 1804 in Vienna – 1 September 1840 in Munich) was an Austrian botanist from Vienna. He co-authored volume 7 of the Roemer & Schultes edition of the ''Systema Vegetabilium'' with his father Josef August Sc ...
*'' Neoglaziovia'' Mez *''
Neoregelia ''Neoregelia'' is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, native to South American rainforests. The genus name is for Eduard August von Regel, Director of St. Petersburg Botanic Gardens in Rus ...
'' L.B.Sm. *'' Nidularium'' Lem. *'' Ochagavia''
Phil. Rodolfo Amando (or Rudolph Amandus) Philippi (14 September 1808 – 23 July 1904) was a German–Chilean paleontologist and zoologist. Philippi contributed primarily to malacology and paleontology. His grandson, Rodulfo Amando Philippi Bañados ...
*'' Orthophytum'' Beer *'' Pitcairnia'' L'Her., including subgenus ''Pepinia'' *'' Portea'' K. Koch *'' Pseudaechmea'' L.B.Sm. & Read, synonym of ''Billbergia'' in PoWO *''
Pseudalcantarea ''Pseudalcantarea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Bromeliaceae. Its native range is Mexico to Central America. It was first described as the subgenus ''Pseudalcantarea'' of '' Tillandsia'' before being raised to a full gen ...
'' ( Mez) Pinzón & Barfuss *'' Pseudaraeococcus'' (Mez) R.A.Pontes & Versieux *''
Puya Puya may refer to: * ''Puya'' (plant), in the family Bromeliaceae * Puya (river), in Russia * Puya, a variety of Guajillo chili * ''Puya'' (Meitei texts), traditional or mythological texts of the Meetei people * '' Culoepuya'' or ''Culo'e Puya'' ...
'' Molina *''
Quesnelia ''Quesnelia'' is a genus of plants in the family (biology), family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus is named after French businessman and patron of botany Edouard Prosper Quesnel, of Le Havre (1781-1850). Endemism, Endemic to east ...
'' Gaudich. *'' Racinaea'' M.A.Spencer & L.B.Sm. *'' Rokautskyia'' Leme, S.Heller & Zizka *'' Ronnbergia'' E.Morren & André *'' Sequencia'' Givnish *'' Sincoraea'' Ule *'' Steyerbromelia'' L.B.Sm. *'' Stigmatodon'' Leme, G.K.Br. & Barfuss *'' Tillandsia'' L. *'' Ursulaea'' Read & H.U.Baensch, synonym of ''Aechmea'' in PoWO *''
Vriesea ''Vriesea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. The genus name is for Willem Hendrik de Vriese, Dutch botanist, physician (1806–1862). Its species are widespread over Mexico, Central ...
''
Lindl. John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist. Early years Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley ...
*'' Wallisia'' ( Regel) É.Morren *'' Waltillia'' Leme, Barfuss & Halbritt. *''
Werauhia ''Werauhia'' is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. The genus is named for Werner Rauh, a German botanist (1913–2000). Based on molecular evidence, a number of species previously classified within other brom ...
'' J.R.Grant *'' Wittmackia'' Mez *''
Wittrockia ''Wittrockia'' is a genus of plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus name is for Veit Brecher Wittrock, a Swedish botanist (1839-1914).Bromeliad Society International read on line/ref> These plants are native to C ...
'' Lindm. *'' Zizkaea'' W.Till & Barfuss


Hybrid genera

Intergeneric hybrid genera accepted by Plants of the World Online include: *× ''Cryptbergia'' R.G.Wilson & C.L.Wilson = ''Cryptanthus'' × ''Billbergia'' *× ''Guzlandsia'' Gouda = ''Guzmania'' × ''Tillandsia'' *× ''Hohenmea'' B.R.Silva & L.F.Sousa = ''Hohenbergia'' × ''Aechmea'' *× ''Niduregelia'' Leme = ''Nidularium'' × ''Neoregelia''


Gallery

File:RedBromelaid.jpg, A Bromeliad File:Billbergia pyramidalis in Hyderabad Nursery W IMG 0428.jpg, '' Billbergia pyramidalis'' File:Billbergia pyramidalis in Hyderabad Nursery W IMG 0425.jpg, ''Billbergia pyramidalis'' File:條紋水塔花 20190712192104.jpg, '' Billbergia vittata Brongniart'' File:Tillandsia usneoides04.jpg, '' Tillandsia usneoides'' hanging from branches File:Bromeliad6.jpg, A Bromeliad File:Bromeliad spike.jpg, The flower of a '' Billbergia'' sp. File:Puya berteroana.jpg, '' Puya alpestris'' File:Bromeliad-pink-flower-closeup.jpg, Flower close-up File:Bromeliad05.jpg, A bromeliad File:Tillandsia tower arp.jpg, '' Tillandsia'' airplants mounted on the bark of a cork oak


Distribution and habitat

Plants in the Bromeliaceae are widely represented in their natural climates across the Americas. One species ('' Pitcairnia feliciana'') can be found in Africa. They can be found at altitudes from sea level to 4,200 meters, from
rainforests Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainforest, ...
to
desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...
s. 1,814 species are
epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
s, some are lithophytes, and some are terrestrial. Accordingly, these plants can be found in the
Andean The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S l ...
highlands, from northern Chile to Colombia, in the Sechura Desert of coastal Peru, in the
cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud ...
s of Central and South America, in southern United States from southern
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are ...
to
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...
to
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
, and in far southern
Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
.


Ecology

Bromeliads often serve as phytotelmata, accumulating water between their leaves. One study found 175,000 bromeliads per hectare (2.5 acres) in one forest; that many bromeliads can sequester 50,000 liters (more than 13,000 gallons) of water.Pineapple Dreams
, The Wild Side, Olivia Judson, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', March 18, 2008
The aquatic habitat created as a result is host to a diverse array of
invertebrate Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chorda ...
s, especially aquatic insect larvae, including those of mosquitos. These bromeliad
invertebrate Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chorda ...
s benefit their hosts by increasing
nitrogen Nitrogen is the chemical element with the symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a nonmetal and the lightest member of group 15 of the periodic table, often called the pnictogens. It is a common element in the universe, estimated at se ...
uptake into the plant. A study of 209 plants from the Yasuní Scientific Reserve in
Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...
identified 11,219 animals, representing more than 350 distinct species, many of which are found only on bromeliads. Examples include some species of
ostracod Ostracods, or ostracodes, are a class of the Crustacea (class Ostracoda), sometimes known as seed shrimp. Some 70,000 species (only 13,000 of which are extant) have been identified, grouped into several orders. They are small crustaceans, typic ...
s, small
salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All t ...
s about in length, and
tree frog A tree frog (or treefrog) is any species of frog that spends a major portion of its lifespan in trees, known as an arboreal state. Several lineages of frogs among the Neobatrachia have given rise to treefrogs, although they are not closely rela ...
s.
Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispa ...
n bromeliads are home to '' Metopaulias depressus'', a reddish-brown
crab Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) ( el, βραχύς , translit=brachys = short, / = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. They live in all th ...
across, which has evolved social behavior to protect its young from predation by '' Diceratobasis macrogaster'', a species of
damselfly Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along ...
whose
larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...
e live in bromeliads. Some bromeliads even form homes for other species of bromeliads. Trees or branches that have a higher incidence of sunlight tend to have more bromeliads. In contrast, the sectors facing west receive less sunlight and therefore fewer bromeliads. In addition, thicker trees have more bromeliads, possibly because they are older and have greater structural complexity.


Cultivation and uses

Humans have been using bromeliads for thousands of years. The
Incas The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts",  "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...
,
Aztecs The Aztecs () were a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl ...
,
Maya Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a popul ...
and others used them for food, protection, fiber and ceremony, just as they are still used today. European interest began when Spanish conquistadors returned with
pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuri ...
, which became so popular as an exotic food that the image of the pineapple was adapted into European art and sculpture. In 1776, the species ''
Guzmania lingulata ''Guzmania lingulata'', the droophead tufted airplant or scarlet star, is a species of flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. This evergreen epiphytic perennial is native to rainforest habitats in Central Amer ...
'' was introduced to Europe, causing a sensation among gardeners unfamiliar with such a plant. In 1828, ''
Aechmea fasciata ''Aechmea fasciata'' is a species of flowering plant in the Bromeliaceae family. It is commonly called the silver vase or urn plant and is native to Brazil. This plant is probably the best known species in this genus, and it is often grown as a h ...
'' was brought to Europe, followed by ''
Vriesea splendens ''Vriesea splendens'', or flaming sword, is a species of flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. Native to Trinidad, eastern Venezuela and the GuianasSmith, L.B. & R. J. Downs. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliacea ...
'' in 1840. These transplants were so successful, they are still among the most widely grown bromeliad varieties. In the 19th century, breeders in Belgium, France and the Netherlands started hybridizing plants for wholesale trade. Many exotic varieties were produced until World War I, which halted breeding programs and led to the loss of some species. The plants experienced a resurgence of popularity after World War II. Since then,
Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...
,
Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...
and North American nurseries have greatly expanded bromeliad production. Only one bromeliad, the
pineapple The pineapple (''Ananas comosus'') is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae. The pineapple is indigenous to South America, where it has been cultivated for many centuri ...
(''Ananas comosus''), is a commercially important food crop.
Bromelain Bromelain is an enzyme extract derived from the stems of pineapples, although it exists in all parts of the fresh pineapple. The extract has a history of folk medicine use. As an ingredient, it is used in cosmetics, as a topical medication, and ...
, a common ingredient in meat tenderizer, is extracted from pineapple stems. Many other bromeliads are popular
ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...
s, grown as both garden and
houseplant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...
s. Bromeliads are important food plants for many peoples. For example, the Pima of Mexico occasionally consume flowers of '' Tillandsia erubescens'' and '' T. recurvata'' due to their high sugar content; in Argentina and Bolivia, the shoot apices of '' T. rubella'' and '' T. maxima'' are consumed; in Venezuela, indigenous coastal tribes eat a sour-tasting but sweet-smelling berry, known as 'Maya', of ''
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 isl ...
'' as a fruit or in
fermented beverage This is a list of fermented foods, which are foods produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms. In this context, fermentation typically refers to the fermentation of sugar to alcohol using yeast, but other fermentation processes involv ...
s.


Collectors

Édouard André Édouard François André (17 July 1840 – 25 October 1911) was a French horticulturalist, landscape designer, as well as a leading landscape architect of the late 19th century, famous for designing city parks and public spaces in Lithuania, ...
was a French collector/explorer whose many discoveries of bromeliads in the Cordilleras of South America would be influential on horticulturists to follow. He served as a source of inspiration to 20th-century collectors, in particular Mulford B. Foster and Lyman Smith of the United States and
Werner Rauh Werner Rauh (16 May 1913 in Niemegk – 7 April 2000 in Heidelberg) was an internationally renowned German biologist, botanist and author. Biography Born in the town of Niemegk near Bitterfeld, Rauh studied at Biology faculty at the University o ...
of Germany and Michelle Jenkins of Australia.André, Édouard François. "Bromeliaceae Andreanae. Description et histoire des Bromeliacees recoltees dans La Colombie, L'Ecuador et Le Venezuela". Paris: Librairie Agricole; G. Masson, 1889


See also

*
List of foliage plant diseases (Bromeliaceae) This is a list of diseases of foliage plants belonging to the family Bromeliaceae. Plant Species Bacterial diseases Fungal diseases See also * List of pineapple diseases ReferencesCommon Names of Diseases, The American Phytopathologica ...


References


External links


The New Bromeliad Taxon List
A constantly updated list of current Bromeliad names and synonyms. * Luther, H. E. (2008
An Alphabetical List of Bromeliad Binomials, Eleventh EditionThe Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County, Florida, Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The c ...
. Published b
The Bromeliad Society International

Bromeliad care information

Bromeliad cultivar registry

The Brom-L Bromeliad Gallery
The Photo Gallery of the (Virtual) World Wide Web Bromeliad Society
Bromeliads of Chile
in Chileflora
Palm trees, small palms, Cycads, Bromeliads and tropical plants
Photos of Bromeliads and associated flora, with information on habitat and cultivation. {{Authority control Poales families