LYNN: Gardening and Bromeliads
Bromeliads (the pineapple plant family) are a new
interest although I have participated in community vegetable gardens through
the years. I belong to the Bromeliad Study Group of Balboa Park which sponsors
the San Diego Zoo Bromeliad Garden and shadecloth nursery where I volunteer on
Saturday mornings. Our meetings are the second Tuesday (7P.M.) at Balboa Park.
I also volunteer in the Balboa Park plant and tree nursery.
The Balboa Park Botanical House, largest
"lath" structure in the U.S. Filled with changing horticulture
delights and oddities.
What are Bromeliads and what do they look like?
At this time, my tiny family of Bromeliads are:
- Aechmea triangularis
(looks like an unhusked ear of corn standing on end), with 1 pup
- Aechmea blackjack
- Aechmea friederike
- Aechmea fasciata
- Aechmea variegata
- Billbergia "Santa
Monica"
- Billbergia non-pareil
- Billbergia conedor
- Cryptanthus bivittatus,
with 2 pups
- Cryptanthus cascade
- Cryptanthus (several still
to be classified)
- Guzmania limbo
- Guzmania decoia hybrid
(red inflorescence) and 2 pups
- Guzmania
- Neoregelia "Kilauea
Fire" and 2 pups
- Neoregelia mormorata
- Neoregelia (many hybrids
including 'german')
- Nidularium bilbergoides
- Orthophytum charelis x o.
racinea
- Orthophytum magalhaesii
(seedling now potted and growing nicely)
- Orthophytum Saxicola rubra
- Orthophytum glabrum
- Tillandsia usneoides
(Spanish Moss)
- Tillandsia erubescens.
(mounted on wood)
- Tillandsia secunda
- Tillandsia Inca Goldpero
(fragrant)
- Tillandsia latifolia
- Tillandsia bergeri
(hanging on a hook) and gobs more Tillys (unk)
- Vriesea erythrodactylon x
Vriesea inflata (beautiful flat, red inflorescence), with 4 pups
- Vriesea christiane DR
8x4692
- several unknown
Billbergia, and Aechmea (waiting for a bloom to identify)
With all my other plants, my small apartment and patio are beginning to look like a jungle! All grown without pesticides or chemicals, I have a Palm tree, Begonias, Fuchsia (Voodoo and Gypsy), Dianthus, Impatiens, Jasmine, Kalanchoe, Portulaca, Hypoestes, Ice plant, Spider Plant, Boston and Maidenhair ferns, a several strange Echeveria (succulents), Philodendrons, Maranta leuconeura (rabbit tracks), some cacti, jade and herbs.
What the heck are Bromeliads?
(Thanks to the Bromeliad Society, Inc. for some of this information)
Bromeliads (broh-MEE-lee-ads) are a family of about 2500 species of plants native to tropical North and South America. There are also several thousand hybrids and cultivars (cultivated varieties) that have been developed by plant breeders. The commonest growth form is a stemless rosette of leaves. The rosette may be exquisitely symmetrical or twisted and curled into bizarre shapes. The foliage ranges from shades of solid green to brightly spotted and banded. The inflorescences (flower stalk and flowers) often flaunt dazzling color combinations as well as fantastic forms. They range from tiny plants that look like moss to 20 foot giants that take half a century to flower. Their habitats range from steamy sea-level rain forests to chilly cloud forest to the edges of deserts.
Most bromeliad plants die after flowering (sometimes it takes a couple of years) but produce (depending on the species) one to several "pups" which can be cut off and put on its own when the pup is at least half as large as the parent. Plants may also be grown from seeds if you have a lot of time.
Two Types of Growth
About half of the species are epiphytes (EP-i-fites), plants that grow on trees or rocks; the rest are terrestrials (ter-REST-rials) that grow in the ground. Bromeliads are not parasites; they do no harm to the host tree, but simply use it as a perch to gain access to sunlight (forest floors are too dark for most plants). The root systems are normally small and serve mainly to anchor the plants to the tree branch or rock. Most of the functions of water and nutrient absorption have been taken over by the leaves. The leaves often form a reservoir that collects and holds water; these are called tank bromeliads. Those that don't hold water are called xerophytic or atmospheric (epiphytes only) bromeliads.
Species and Genera
The 2500 species are grouped by certain shared characteristics into genera (Jen-er-ah, singular: genus). The genus (JEEN-us) is the first word in the scientific name of a species, e.g., Aechmea fasciata. The scientific name is always italicized (or underlined); the genus name is always capitalized and the species name (the second word) is not. The generic name is often used as a "common name".
Although the characters that formally identify a genus are frequently small details that can be seen only under magnification, most genera can be recognized by the forms of their foliage and inflorescences. Of the approximately 50 bromeliad genera, there are about 10 commonly in cultivation. Pronunciations vary throughout the world, but the following are typical American ones.
Commonly Cultivated Genera
- Aechmea (Eek-me-uh or ECK-mee-uh) species are all tank epiphytes, broadly bowl shaped with spiny margins on the arching leaves. The inflorescences are round in cross section and have large, colorful bracts. They remain in color for weeks or even months. The flowers are followed by fleshy berries that are often brightly colored.
- Ananas is a small genus of terrestrial plants that includes the commercial pineapple (Ananas comosus). The plants resemble aechmeas in many respects. The leafy top of a purchased pineapple can be twisted or cut off and easily rooted. It will mature and fruit in two to three years. There is a variegated form of this species (Ananas comosus variegatus) that has green, cream and pink striped leaves that form rosettes 2 feet or more across. There is a smaller species, Ananas nanus, that is commonly grown as an interior plant. It has arching, 12 to 15-inch grayish-green leaves surrounding a 15-inch spike of red buds resembling a pincushion. The buds open into purple flowers which are followed by a 2-inch high, fragrant, edible pineapple.
- Cryptanthus (crip-TAN-thus) is a terrestrial genus; the nearly flat rosettes do not hold water. The leaves are succulent, usually with wavy margins and teeth; they are often strongly banded with white, bronze, or pink. The white (or light green or pink) flowers appear nested in the center in most cultivars.
- Dyckia (DICK-ee-uh) is also a terrestrial genus; none of the species has a water reservoir. The succulent leaves are very spiny. Unbranched spikes bear bright yellow or orange flowers.
- Guzmania (guhz-MAIN-ee-uh or gooz-MAHN-ee-uh)) species are almost all tank epiphytes. The leaves are green or sometimes colored, shiny, and have smooth margins. The rounded inflorescences may be elongate to compact and have large brightly colored bracts. The petals are usually yellow or white.
- Neoregelia (KNEE-oh-reh-GEE-lee-uh) species are all tank epiphytes. The rosettes are usually broad though some are vase-shaped. The leaf margins are usually serrated, but not spiny, and may be green or conspicuously banded, striped, or spotted with various colors. The inflorescences are stemless; the inconspicuous flowers barely rise above the water in the centers of the plants. In may species the center leaves turn brilliant colors at maturity.
- Tillandsia (Till-AND-see-uh) is a large, diverse genus of largely epiphytic species, most of which do not form tanks. The smooth-margined leaves are usually densely covered with fuzzy scales that make the foliage gray-green to white. Rosettes vary from symmetrical to very contorted. The flowers may be nestled among the leaves or borne on long single or branched round or flattened inflorescences. Many have brightly colored bracts and/or flowers. In short, if the plant is a spineless, gray-leafed, tankless epiphyte, it's most likely a tillandsia.
- Vriesea (VREE-see-uh or VREE-zhuh) species are nearly all tank epiphytes. The rosettes form broad vases, and the smooth-margined leaves are either shiny green or intricately to boldly patterned with scales or translucent windows. The tall, single or branched inflorescences are mostly strongly flattened (sword shaped); they are composed of overlapping, brightly colored bracts that last for several months.
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