Overview
Herbs or rarely shrubs, epiphytic, lithophytic, or terrestrial. Leaves spirally arranged, usually rosulate, sessile, simple, veins parallel, base dilated, sheathing, margin often spinose serrate or sometimes entire. Inflorescence terminal or lateral, scapose or sessile, a panicle, raceme, spike, or head, sometimes reduced to solitary, pseudolateral flowers; bracts usually brightly colored and conspicuous. Flowers bisexual or sometimes functionally unisexual, 3-merous. Sepals and petals each 3, distinct, free or basally connate; petals often brightly colored, basal margin with a pair of scalelike appendages. Stamens 6, in 2 whorls of 3; filaments free, connate, or collectively or individually adnate to petals; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Gynoecium of 3 carpels united to form a compound, 3-loculed, superior or very often partly or wholly inferior ovary; ovules few to usually ± numerous in each locule; placentation axile. Style terminal and often 3-parted; stigmas papillose. Fruit a berry or less often a septicidal capsule, or seldom compound and fleshy. Seeds usually winged or plumose; endosperm mealy; embryo small to fairly large.
About 50 genera and 2000--2600 species: mainly tropical America, except for Pitcairnia feliciana (A. Chevalier) Harms & Mildbraed in tropical W Africa; one species (introduced) in China.[1]
Photos
Taxonomy
The Family Bromeliaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (23): Abietoideae · Asteroideae · Bromelioideae · Caryophylloideae · Coliadinae · Cypripedioideae · Epidendroideae · Faboideae · Iridoideae · Ixioideae · Larinae · Nepetoideae · Pitcairnioideae · Pyroideae · Ranunculoideae · Rhinanthoideae · Rhododendroideae · Rosoideae · Sedoideae · Spiraeoideae · Tillandsioideae · Ulmoideae · Violoideae
- Tribe (46): Abutilieae · Ajugeae · Anemoneae · Anthemideae · Astereae · Bombini · Calluneae · Cappareae · Cheloneae · Coelogyneae · Coreopsideae · Delphinieae · Diapensieae · Gloxinieae · Grevilleeae · Hemimerideae · Hesperideae · Hyacintheae · Irideae · Isopyreae · Ixieae · Kohlerieae · Lagerstroemieae · Larini · Laspeyresiini · Maleae · Maranteae · Mentheae · Narcisseae · Phaseoleae · Pitcairnieae · Polemonieae · Primuleae · Rhododendreae · Salvieae · Sedeae · Sileneae · Spiraeeae · Streptocarpeae · Tephrosieae · Theeae · Tulipeae · Verbeneae · Veroniceae · Vicieae · Violeae
- Genus (120): Abromeitiella · Acanthospora · Acanthostachys · Aechmea · Agallostachys · Alcantarea · Allardtia · Ananas · Ananassa · Andrea · Androlepis · Anoplophytum · Araeococcus · Aregelia · Ayensua · Azorella · Bakerantha · Bakeria · Bilbergia · Billbergia · Bonapartea · Brewcaria · Brocchinia · Bromelia · Canistropsis · Canistrum · Caraguata · Caralluma · Catopsis · Chevaliera · Chevalieria · Chirripoa · Connellia · Conobea · Cottendorfia · Cryptanthus · Cryptbergia · Deinacanthon · Deincanthon · Deuterocohnia · Diaphoranthema · Disteganthus · Distiacanthus · Dyckia · Echinostachys · Edmundoa · Encholirium · Fascicularia · Fernseea · Fosterella · Garrelia · Glomeropitcairnia · Gravisia · Greigia · Guzmania · Hechtia · Hepetis · Hesperogreigia · Hohenbergia · Hohenbergiopsis · Hoplophytum · Jonghea · Karatas · Lamprococcus · Lindmania · Lymania · Macrochordion · Massangea · Melinonia · Meziothamnus · Mezobromelia · Navia · Neoglaziovia · Neoregelia · Neumannia · Nidularium · Niveophyllum · Ochagavia · Ortgiesia · Orthophytum · Otostylis · Papilionanthe · Pepinia · Phlomostachys · Pholidophyllum · Phytarrhiza · Pitcairnia · Platyaechmea · Platystachys · Podaechmea · Pogospermum · Portea · Pothuava · Pourretia · Prionophyllum · Pseudaechmea · Pseudananas · Puya · Quesnelia · Racaenia · Racinaea · Rhodostachys · Ronnbergia · Ruckia · Schlumbergeria · Seidenfadenia · Sodiroa · Steyerbromelia · Strepsia · Streptocalyx · Thecophyllum · Tillandsia · Tussacia · Ursulaea · Viridantha · Vriesea · Vriesia · Werauhia · Wittmackia · Wittrockia
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 5,614 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in the Family Bromeliaceae.
Genera
Abromeitiella
Deuterocohnia (named for , German botanist and bacteriologist) is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. Plants once described as belonging to the genus Abromeitiella have been reevaluated and reclassified within Deuterocohnia following modern DNA analysis. [more]
Acanthospora
Acanthostachys
Acanthostachys is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. [more]
Aechmea
Aechmea is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Aechmea has more than 140 species distributed from Mexico through South America. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes. [more]
Agallostachys
Alcantarea
Alcantarea (named for Dom Pedro d'Alcântara, second Emperor of Brazil) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Allardtia
Ananas
Ananassa
Andrea
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Androlepis
Androlepis is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Anoplophytum
Araeococcus
Araeococcus is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Aregelia
Ayensua
Ayensua is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Azorella
Azorella t. minima [more]
Bakerantha
Bakeria
Schefflera is a genus in the family Araliaceae. The plants are trees, shrubs or lianas, growing 1-30 m tall, with woody stems and palmately-compound leaves. The circumscription of the genus has varied greatly. Phylogenetic studies have shown that the widely-used broad circumscription as a pantropical genus of over 700 species is polyphyletic, but it remains to be seen how this will affect the classification of the genus. [more]
Bilbergia
Billbergia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus is named for the Swedish botanist, zoologist, and anatomist Gustaf Johan Billberg. Billbergia primarily occur in Brazil but individual specie are represented from Mexico through tropical South America. [more]
Billbergia
Billbergia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus is named for the Swedish botanist, zoologist, and anatomist Gustaf Johan Billberg. Billbergia primarily occur in Brazil but individual specie are represented from Mexico through tropical South America. [more]
Bonapartea
Brewcaria
Brewcaria is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Brocchinia
A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]
Bromelia
Bromelia is a of tropical American plants characterized by flowers with a deeply cleft calyx, of the family Bromeliaceae, named after the Swedish botanist Olaf Bromelius (died 1705). It includes the following species: [more]
Canistropsis
Canistropsis (Greek- "resembling ") is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Canistrum
Canistrum (Greek “kanistron” - a kind of basket carried on the head) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Caraguata
Caralluma
Succulent, perennial, branched herbs. Stem erect, branched, 4-angled, glabrous. Leaves small caducous. Flowers single or few or many-flowered sessile lateral cymes or many-flowered inflorescence from the top of the stem. Calyx 5-partite, lobes ovate to linear-lanceolate, Corolla purple or yellowish with purple streaks, rotate or broadly campanulate, 5-lobed, valvate in bud. Corona double, attached to the staminal column; the outer corona of 5 deeply bifid segments; the innner corona of 5 linear segments incumbent on the anthers. Staminal column short, arising from the base of the corolla; anthers without appendages. Pollen mass 1 in each anther cell, with a pellucid margin. Follicles 9-11 cm long, narrowly fusiform, smooth.[2] [more]
Catopsis
Herbs, epiphytic, without evident stems. Leaves many-ranked, rosulate; blade linear to triangular, base usually with chalklike bloom, margins entire, appressed-scaly. Inflorescence central, 5--many-flowered, always many-ranked, simple or compound, flowers laxly arranged; floral bracts small, inconspicuous, not obscuring rachis. Flowers bisexual in flora or functionally unisexual; sepals distinct, strongly asymmetric; petals distinct; stamens included, usually in 2 unequal sets, filaments free; ovary superior. Capsules ovoid to ellipsoid, dehiscent. Seeds with light tan to brown, apical, plumose appendage.[3] [more]
Chevaliera
Chevalieria
Chirripoa
Connellia
Connellia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Conobea
Cottendorfia
Cottendorfia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Cryptanthus
Cryptanthus is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae. [more]
Cryptbergia
Deinacanthon
Deinacanthon (from the Greek “deinos” - terrible and “anthos” - flower) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Deincanthon
Deuterocohnia
Deuterocohnia (named for , German botanist and bacteriologist) is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. Plants once described as belonging to the genus Abromeitiella have been reevaluated and reclassified within Deuterocohnia following modern DNA analysis. [more]
Diaphoranthema
Disteganthus
Disteganthus is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. It contained two species, D calatheoides and D. basilateralis until a third, D. lateralis, was discovered in 1994. They are considered a primitive genus among bromeliads and are only found in terrestrial environments. Distenganthus is native to Guyana. [more]
Distiacanthus
Dyckia
Dyckia is a genus in the family. [more]
Echinostachys
Aechmea is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Aechmea has more than 140 species distributed from Mexico through South America. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes. [more]
Edmundoa
Edmundoa is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus is named for Edmundo Pereira, Brazilian botanist (1914-1986) and has only recently been recognized as an independent genus, grouped earlier with Canistrum. [more]
Encholirium
Encholirium ( enchos = spear and leiron = lily) is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. This genus is native to Brazil where many occur exclusively in arid, rocky conditions. Some species of Encholirium are limited in number and have been the focus of conservation efforts. These plants, which have been observed being pollinated by bats, are commonly confused with Dyckia. [more]
Fascicularia
Fascicularia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae with very few species. The genus Fascicularia is indigenous to Chile. In the wild, all Fascicularias are either terrestrial or saxicolous. [more]
Fernseea
Fernseea is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. It was named in honor of Moravian-Austrian botanist and physician at Vienna, Dr. Heinrich Ritter Wawra von Fernsee (1831-1887) by John Gilbert Baker . Only a couple species of this genus are known to exist. [more]
Fosterella
The Fosterella is a of the Bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae). [more]
Garrelia
Glomeropitcairnia
Glomeropitcarnia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. This plant group had been classified as a genera within the Pitcairnioideae subfamily, but modern cladistic and DNA analysis has revealed them as a member of Tillandsioideae, most closely related to the Guzmania and Mezobromelia generas. The only two species of this plant described to date are G. penduliflora and G. erectiflora, both common to the Caribbean. Among tank bromeliads they are noted as being able to store the most water, up to five gallons, providing a water source for other biota (with special reference to the environmentally sensitive El Tucuche Golden Tree Frog - Phyllodytes auratus ). [more]
Gravisia
Aechmea is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Aechmea has more than 140 species distributed from Mexico through South America. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes. [more]
Greigia
Greigia is a of the plant family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Greigias are unique among bromeliads in that they do not die after flowering. Instead, they continue to bloom every year from the same rosette. [more]
Guzmania
Herbs, usually epiphytic, stemless to rarely caulescent. Leaves many-ranked, usually ligulate, margins entire. Inflorescences 5--many-flowered, many-ranked, mostly 2-pinnate to less commonly single spike, flowers laxly to densely arranged; floral bracts broad, conspicuous, mostly obscuring rachis. Flowers bisexual; sepals distinct to connate over 1/2 length, usually symmetric; petals with claws adherent to subconnate petal, forming short tube, blade distinct; stamens usually included, adherent to adnate with petal claws; ovary superior. Capsules cylindric, dehiscent. Seeds with basal, usually tan-brown plumose appendage.[4] [more]
Hechtia
Herbs, terrestrial or among or on rocks, caulescent or without evident stems, occasionally stoloniferous. Leaves rosulate, straight to falcate; blade narrowly triangular, margins spinose. Inflorescences lateral [terminal or lateral], many-flowered, simple or compound and paniculate; branches capitate to lax and elongate; floral bracts broad [broad to narrow], conspicuous. Flowers dimorphic, functionally unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants; sepals distinct, symmetric; staminate petals distinct or appearing briefly connate basally from adnation of filaments to adjacent petals; stamens included or exserted; filaments adnate [free or adnate] to petals; pistillate petals distinct, triangular or ovate; ovary largely superior to largely inferior. Capsules ovoid, dehiscent. Seeds narrowly winged to almost wingless, plumose appendages absent.[5] [more]
Hepetis
Hesperogreigia
Hohenbergia
Hohenbergiais a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Hohenbergiopsis
Hohenbergiopsis is so named (From the genus “Hohenbergia” and the Greek “opsis” (resembling)) because it resembles the genus Hohenbergia, which is named for Hohenberg, a prince of Wurttemburg (now part of Germany) and a patron of botany. It is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Hoplophytum
Jonghea
Karatas
A Genus in the Kingdom Plantae. [more]
Lamprococcus
Lindmania
Lindmania (named for Carl Axel Magnus Lindman, Swedish botanist) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. [more]
Lymania
Lymania (named for Lyman Bradford Smith, American botanist) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus was established in 1984 to "unite furrowed or winged species from Aechmea subgenus Lamprococcus, Araeococcus and Ronnbergia" a group of plants native to the Bahian coast of the Brazilian rainforest. Modern DNA analysis has confirmed that Lymania is correctly classified as an independent genus containing two distinct clades. [more]
Macrochordion
Massangea
Melinonia
Meziothamnus
Mezobromelia
Mezobromelia (named for Carl Christian Mez, German botanist) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. They are a rare genus, native to Colombia and Ecuador. [more]
Navia
Neoglaziovia
Neoglaziova is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The species Neoglaziovia variegata has been, and continues to be, an important part of localized markets in South America where its fibers are woven into fabric, netting and rope. It is named in honor of Auguste François Marie Glaziou, 20th century French plant collector in Brazil. [more]
Neoregelia
Neoregelia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. A genus of bromeliads with mostly broad, relatively flat leaves. Inflorescences form in a shallow depression the center of the plant, which often fills partway with water, through which the flowers bloom. The leaves immediately surrounding the inflorescence are very often brightly colored, and many species show banding or striping on most or all of their leaves. Neoregelia species are commonly cultivated and hybridized for their colorful foliage. [more]
Neumannia
Nidularium
Nidularium is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Named to describe the nestling characteristic of the inflorescence (Lat. nidulus = little nest), they are native to the rainforests of Brazil. Commonly confused with Neoregelia which they resemble, this plant group was first described in 1854. [more]
Niveophyllum
Ochagavia
Ochagavia (named for Sylvestris Ochagavia, Chilean minister of education) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Endemic to southern and central Chile, this genus is represented by four known species. [more]
Ortgiesia
Orthophytum
Orthophytum (Greek "ortho" = straight and "phytum" = plant) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Otostylis
Papilionanthe
Pepinia
Pitcairnia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. It was named for Dr. William Pitcairn, English physician and gardener (1711-1791). The genus Pitcairnia ranks as the second most prolific of the bromeliad family (after Tillandsia). They are most abundant in Colombia, Peru and Brazil, but can also be found in areas from Cuba and Mexico south to Argentina. [more]
Phlomostachys
Pholidophyllum
Phytarrhiza
Pitcairnia
Pitcairnia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. It was named for Dr. William Pitcairn, English physician and gardener (1711-1791). The genus Pitcairnia ranks as the second most prolific of the bromeliad family (after Tillandsia). They are most abundant in Colombia, Peru and Brazil, but can also be found in areas from Cuba and Mexico south to Argentina. [more]
Platyaechmea
Platystachys
Podaechmea
Pogospermum
Portea
Portea (named for Dr. Marius Porte, French naturalist) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and is native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil. [more]
Pothuava
Pourretia
Prionophyllum
Pseudaechmea
Pseudananas
Pseudananas is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Puya
Puya can refer to: [more]
Quesnelia
Quesnelia (named For M. Quesnel, French consul to French Guiana) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Indigenous to eastern Brazil, this genus contains approximately 30 species. [more]
Racaenia
Racinaea
Racinaea (named for Racine Foster, wife of Mulford Foster and co-founder of the BSI) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. [more]
Rhodostachys
Ronnbergia
Ronnbergia is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Native to South America, this genus was named for Auguste Ronnberg, Belgian Director of Agriculture and Horticulture in 1874. [more]
Ruckia
Schlumbergeria
Seidenfadenia
Sodiroa
Steyerbromelia
Steyerbromelia (named for Julian A. Steyermark, American plant collector, author, and editor) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Pitcairnioideae. [more]
Strepsia
Streptocalyx
Aechmea is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Aechmea has more than 140 species distributed from Mexico through South America. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes. [more]
Thecophyllum
Tillandsia
Herbs, usually epiphytic, stemless to long caulescent. Leaves mostly many-ranked, rosulate, or occasionally 2-ranked and / or laxly arranged; blade linear to triangular or ligulate, margins entire, trichomes usually conspicuous. Inflorescences central, 1--many-flowered, 2-ranked; floral bracts mostly broad, conspicuous, rachis covered or exposed at anthesis. Flowers bisexual; sepals distinct or adaxial pair connate, usually symmetric; petals distinct; stamens included or exserted, filaments free; ovary superior. Capsules cylindric, dehiscent. Seeds with basal, white, plumose appendage.[6] [more]
Tussacia
Ursulaea
Ursulaea (named for Ursula Baensch, plant breeder and co-author of ‘Blooming Bromeliads’) is a of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Represented by two known species, these plants are endemic to Mexico. [more]
Viridantha
Vriesea
Vriesea (named for , Dutch botanist, physician)[1] is the second largest genus of the Tillandsioideae subfamily in the botanical family Bromeliaceae. Containing some of the largest bromeliad species, these tropical plants harbor a wide variety of insect fauna, unlike the smaller catopsis species. This genus is closely related to Tillandsia, only differentiated by the presence of petal appendages in Vriesea. [more]
Vriesia
Werauhia
Werauhia is a genus of epiphytic , native to the neotropics. Based on molecular evidence, a number of species previously classified within other bromeliad genera, especially Vriesia and Tillandsia, have been placed in Werauhia instead. [more]
Wittmackia
Wittrockia
Wittrockia is a of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. Consisting of only seven species, these plants are native to Central and South America. Their attractive foliage has made them popular in cultivation. [more]
At least 17 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Wittrockia.
More info about the Genus Wittrockia may be found here.
Bibliography
- Bennet, B. C. 1992. The Florida bromeliads: Guzmania monostachia. J. Bromeliad Soc. 42: 266--270.
- Burt-Utley, K. and J. F. Utley. 1987. Contributions toward a revision of Hechtia (Bromeliaceae). Brittonia 39: 37--43.
- Gardner, C. S. 1982. Systematic Study of Tillandsia Subgenus Tillandsia. Ph.D. dissertation. Texas A&M University.
- Gardner, C. S. 1984. New species and nomenclatural changes in Mexican Tillandsia---I. Selbyana 7: 361--379.
- Luther, H. E. 1985. Notes on hybrid tillandsias in Florida. Phytologia 57: 175--176.
- Ma Weiliang. 1997. Bromeliaceae. In: Wu Kuo-fang, ed., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 13(3): 64--68.
Footnotes
- Wei-liang Ma & Bruce Bartholomew "Bromeliaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 24 Page 18. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
- S.I. Ali "Caralluma". in Flora of Pakistan Page 46.. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
- Harry E. Luther, Gregory K. Brown "Catopsis". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
- Harry E. Luther, Gregory K. Brown "Guzmania". in Flora of North America Vol. 22 Page 296. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
- Kathleen Burt-Utley ,John F. Utley "Hechtia". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
- Harry E. Luther,Gregory K. Brown "Tillandsia". in Flora of North America Vol. 22. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
- ^ Mabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
- ^ Givnish, T.J., Kendra C. Millam, Timothy M. Evans, Jocelyn C. Hall, J. Chris Pires, Paul E. Berry, Kenneth J. Sytsma (2004). "Ancient Vicariance or Recent Long-Distance Dispersal? Inferences about Phylogeny and South American–African Disjunctions in Rapateaceae and Bromeliaceae Based on ndhF Sequence Data". International Journal of Plant Sciences 165: S35–S54.
Sources
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