We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Reptiles

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Bromeliaceae?

By Angie Bates
Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 7,859
Share

Bromeliaceae, or the bromeliads, is a family of flowering plants consisting of approximately 45 genera and 2,000 species. These plants are all native to tropical regions of North, Central, and South America, except for a single species, Pitcairnia feliciana which is found in Africa. Bromeliaceae species are usually characterized by their scale-like leaves, and many species, such as Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides, attach themselves to other trees or plants. This family is sometimes called the Pineapple family because it includes the pineapple plant, Ananas comosus.

Most bromeliaceae species are medium-sized plants, although some may be woody and a few are trees. The two most common genera in bromeliaceae are Tillandsia, which houses most of the epiphytic plants, or those that grow on other plants without being parasitic, and Hechtia which includes many ground plants with rosettes of long, stiff, spiky leaves similar to agave plants.

One of the most well-known plants in the Tillandsia genus, Spanish moss, is found primarily in Louisiana and Florida in the United States. Not actually a moss, this plant grows on cypress, oak, and elm trees in long hanging curtains. Spanish moss consists of grayish bark surrounding a fibrous interior. The interior was once used for mattress stuffing and still is found as stuffing in some more expensive furniture because it is a natural insect repellent.

Like other epiphytic plants, Spanish moss is an air plant, meaning it absorbs nutrients directly from the air instead of the soil. The roots of these plants just serve to hold them to the tree and do not provide them with water or nutrients as is usual with most plants. Spanish moss is propagated by fragments which are carried to other trees by birds.

Texas false agave, Hechtia texensis, is an example of a plant in the Hechtia genus. It consists of a rosette of spiky leaves between 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) tall. Rosettes may be up to 20 inches (50 cm) around. These plants are drought tolerant and enjoy full or partial sunlight.

Although pineapples are not in the Hechtia genus, they do share characteristics with the bulk of those plants. Their leaves grow in rosette shapes, that may be up to 4 feet tall (1.2 m), and the fruit grows about six to eight months after the plant blooms. Very drought resistant, pineapple plants do not do well with lots of watering or in below-freezing temperatures. Pineapples are an important crop in Hawaii and can be grown in parts of the Southwestern United States, such as Arizona. They are also grown in the Philippines, South Africa, and Asia.

Share
All Things Nature is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.allthingsnature.org/what-is-bromeliaceae.htm
Copy this link
All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All Things Nature, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.