"Commelinids" > Poales > Bromeliaceae
[Pylogenetic tree of Anscestors and Genera of Bromeliaceae family]
Bromeliaceae - the Pineapple family
Distribution: From Southern United States to Chile and Argentina, with a single species in West Africa.
Habitat: From tropical rainforests to above the treeline of the Andes.
Flowers: actinormorphic, bisexual. six stamens and a tri-carpelate ovary superior in "primitive" forms, inferior in derived forms, especially epiphytes. The Three stigmas twist around one another into a corkscrew spiral pattern. Perianth = three distinct sepals and petals, both three parted. Flowers form a tall, slender inflorescence.
Fruit: Sorosis, often with a crown of leaves at the top (Pineapple)
Forms:
What makes the Bromeliaceae unique is the many alternative methods of obtaining water. two main forms devide the group: the epyphytes and the terrestrial plants.
Many are epyphetic, and most can survive epyphetically. The epyphetic plants germinate and grow on the branches and trunks of host trees, rocks, branches, etc. and use their roots to absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Their are over 400 species of epyphetic plants in the Bromeliaceae family.
Another type of epyphetic plant are the pitcher plants, such as the genera Vriesea, Guzmania and Aechmea. These Bromeliadaceae are able to absorb water and dissolved substances via their leaves in addition to their roots.
Terrestrial forms usually lack a stem, consist instead of a basal rosette of slender, rigid leaves, often with sharp spines on margin or tip. Most of the bromeliaceae(including some of the epyphetics) have adaxially concave leaves which function to funnel water down into pools by the base
The Bromeliaceae, or, the bromeliads, typically have a rosette of leaves either on the ground or otherwise. The leaves are rigid and adaxially concave, effectively funneling water toward the center where it pooled. These pools provide the plant during dry periods, but also provide for many other organisms. Many frogs and insects lay their eggs in the pools of bromeliads, and other, smaller organisms spend their entire lives in pools, making them functioning ecosystems.
The most stereotypical feature of the bromeliad is the signature "blade" inflorescence (Vriesea). This is usually brightly colored (reds and yellows), long lived, and raised on a highly bracteate scape.
Some Genuses:
Aechmea - 100-200 species
Ananas - 5 species (?)
Billbergia
Cryptanthus
Dyckia - 80 species
Guzmania - 100-200 species
Navia - 50 species
Nidulariam
Pitcairnia - over 250 species
Puya - 140 species
Tillandsia - 400 species
Vriesea - 100-200 species
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Bibliography:
Milne, Lorus and Margery. Living Plants of the World. Random House Inc., New York.
Wit, H.C.D. Plants of the World: The Higher Plants II. Pages 252-255. E.P. Dutton & Co. Inc., New York. 1967.
[Pylogenetic tree of Anscestors and Genera of Bromeliaceae family]
![[Pylogenetic tree of Anscestors and Genera of Bromeliaceae family]](Bromeliaceae%20Phylogeny.jpg){kind=link}
Bromeliaceae - the Pineapple family
Distribution: From Southern United States to Chile and Argentina, with a single species in West Africa.
Habitat: From tropical rainforests to above the treeline of the Andes.
Flowers: actinormorphic, bisexual. six stamens and a tri-carpelate ovary superior in "primitive" forms, inferior in derived forms, especially epiphytes. The Three stigmas twist around one another into a corkscrew spiral pattern. Perianth = three distinct sepals and petals, both three parted. Flowers form a tall, slender inflorescence.
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Fruit: Sorosis, often with a crown of leaves at the top (Pineapple)
Forms:
What makes the Bromeliaceae unique is the many alternative methods of obtaining water. two main forms devide the group: the epyphytes and the terrestrial plants.
Many are epyphetic, and most can survive epyphetically. The epyphetic plants germinate and grow on the branches and trunks of host trees, rocks, branches, etc. and use their roots to absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Their are over 400 species of epyphetic plants in the Bromeliaceae family.
Another type of epyphetic plant are the pitcher plants, such as the genera Vriesea, Guzmania and Aechmea. These Bromeliadaceae are able to absorb water and dissolved substances via their leaves in addition to their roots.
Terrestrial forms usually lack a stem, consist instead of a basal rosette of slender, rigid leaves, often with sharp spines on margin or tip. Most of the bromeliaceae(including some of the epyphetics) have adaxially concave leaves which function to funnel water down into pools by the base
 |
 |
The Bromeliaceae, or, the bromeliads, typically have a rosette of leaves either on the ground or otherwise. The leaves are rigid and adaxially concave, effectively funneling water toward the center where it pooled. These pools provide the plant during dry periods, but also provide for many other organisms. Many frogs and insects lay their eggs in the pools of bromeliads, and other, smaller organisms spend their entire lives in pools, making them functioning ecosystems.
The most stereotypical feature of the bromeliad is the signature "blade" inflorescence (Vriesea). This is usually brightly colored (reds and yellows), long lived, and raised on a highly bracteate scape.
Some Genuses:
Aechmea - 100-200 species
Ananas - 5 species (?)
Billbergia
Cryptanthus
Dyckia - 80 species
Guzmania - 100-200 species
Navia - 50 species
Nidulariam
Pitcairnia - over 250 species
Puya - 140 species
Tillandsia - 400 species
Vriesea - 100-200 species
Back to Home
Bibliography:
Milne, Lorus and Margery. Living Plants of the World. Random House Inc., New York.
Wit, H.C.D. Plants of the World: The Higher Plants II. Pages 252-255. E.P. Dutton & Co. Inc., New York. 1967.