''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived ...

and the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Great ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> It is the

type genus In biological taxonomy, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name. Zoological nomenclature According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nomina ...

of the family

Bromeliaceae The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, ...

, subfamily

Bromelioideae Bromelioideae is a subfamily of the bromeliads ( Bromeliaceae). This subfamily is the most diverse, represented by the greatest number of genera with about 40. Most of the plants in this group are epiphytes, though some have evolved in, or will ...

, and its

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen( ...

is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are characterized by

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

s with a deeply cleft

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

. The genus is named after the Swedish medical doctor and botanist (1639-1705).

Species

* '' Bromelia agavifolia'' Brongniart ex Houllet - French Guiana * ''

Bromelia alsodes ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' H. St. John - from Sinaloa south to Nicaragua * '' Bromelia alta'' L.B. Smith - Guyana and Suriname * '' Bromelia antiacantha'' Bertoloni - Brazil, Uruguay * ''

Bromelia araujoi ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' P.J.Braun, Esteves & Scharf - Maranhão * '' Bromelia arenaria'' Ule - Bahia * '' Bromelia arubaiensis'' P.L. Ibisch & R. Vásquez - Bolivia * '' Bromelia auriculata'' L.B. Smith - Ceará * '' Bromelia balansae'' Mez - Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay * '' Bromelia binotii'' E. Morren ex Mez - Espírito Santo * '' Bromelia braunii'' Leme & E. Esteves - Tocantins * '' Bromelia charlesii'' P.J.Braun, Esteves & Scharf - Bahia * ''

Bromelia chrysantha ''Bromelia chrysantha'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Venezuela, Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North Ame ...

'' Jacquin - Venezuela, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago * '' Bromelia dilatata'' Esteves, Hofacker & Scharf - Mato Grosso * '' Bromelia eitenorum'' L.B. Smith - Maranhão * '' Bromelia epiphytica'' L.B. Smith - Amazonas of Brazil * '' Bromelia estevesii'' Leme - Piauí * '' Bromelia exigua'' Mez - Goiás * '' Bromelia flemingii'' I. Ramírez & Carnevali - Aragua of Veenzuela * '' Bromelia fosteriana'' L.B. Smith - Suriname * '' Bromelia fragilis'' L.B. Smith - Colombia * ''

Bromelia glaziovii ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' Mez - Minas Gerais and Goiás * ''

Bromelia goeldiana ''Bromelia goeldiana'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioid ...

'' L.B. Smith - Venezuela and Brazil * ''

Bromelia goyazensis ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' Mez - Goiás * '' Bromelia grandiflora'' Mez - Brazil * ''

Bromelia granvillei ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' L.B. Smith & Gouda - French Guiana * ''

Bromelia gurkeniana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' E. Pereira & Moutinho ** var. ''funchiana'' E. Pereira & Leme -Bahia ** var. ''gurkeniana'' - Pará * ''

Bromelia hemisphaerica ''Bromelia hemisphaerica'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Mexico and Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), ...

'' Lam. - from Guanajuato south to Panama * '' Bromelia hieronymi'' Mez - Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina * '' Bromelia horstii'' Rauh - Mato Grosso * '' Bromelia humilis'' Jacquin - Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, Netherlands Antilles * ''

Bromelia ignaciana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' R. Vásquez & P.L. Ibisch - Bolivia * ''

Bromelia interior ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' L.B. Smith - Brazil * '' Bromelia irwinii'' L.B. Smith - Goiás * ''

Bromelia karatas ''Bromelia karatas'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is Native plant, native to West Indies and to Latin America from San Luis Potosí + Sinaloa south to Brazil. References

Bromelia, karatas Flora of South Amer ...

'' Linnaeus - West Indies; Latin America from San Luis Potosí + Sinaloa south to Brazil * ''

Bromelia laciniosa ''Bromelia laciniosa'', natively known as ''macambira'', is plant in the bromeliad family, or in other words, the pineapple family—though not all bromeliads resemble the common pineapple. ''Bromelia laciniosa'' is native to Brazil and Argentina ...

'' Martius ex Schultes f. - Brazil + Argentina * ''

Bromelia lagopus ''Bromelia lagopus'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their histo ...

'' Mez - Brazil * '' Bromelia legrellae'' (E. Morren) Mez - Pará * ''

Bromelia lindevaldae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' Leme & E. Esteves - Bahia * ''

Bromelia macedoi ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' L.B. Smith - Goiás * '' Bromelia michaelii'' Esteves, Hofacker & Scharf - Goiás * ''

Bromelia minima ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' Leme & E. Esteves - Goiás * ''

Bromelia morreniana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' (Regel) Mez - northern Brazil * ''

Bromelia nidus-puellae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' (André) André ex Mez - Colombia * ''

Bromelia oliveirae ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' L.B. Smith - Pará * '' Bromelia palmeri'' Mez - from Colima south to Oaxaca * ''

Bromelia pinguin ''Bromelia pinguin'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and northern South America. It is also reportedly naturalized in Florida. It is very common in Jamaica Ja ...

'' Linnaeus - West Indies; from Mexico to Ecuador and Suriname; naturalized in Florida * '' Bromelia poeppigii'' Mez - Peru * '' Bromelia redoutei'' (Baker) L.B. Smith - described 1889; origin unknown; probably extinct * ''

Bromelia regnellii ''Bromelia regnellii'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their his ...

'' Mez - Brazil * ''

Bromelia reversacantha ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' Mez - Goiás * ''

Bromelia rondoniana ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species are c ...

'' L.B. Smith - Rondônia * '' Bromelia scarlatina'' (hortus ex Hérincq) E. Morren - Ecuador + Brazil * '' Bromelia serra'' Grisebach - Brazil, French Guiana, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina * ''

Bromelia superba ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type species is '' B. karatas''. ''Bromelia'' species ar ...

'' Mez - Jamaica * ''

Bromelia sylvicola ''Bromelia sylvicola'' is a species of ''Bromelia ''Bromelia'' is a genus of about 70 plant species widespread across Latin America and the West Indies. It is the type genus of the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and its type s ...

'' S. Moore - Mato Grosso * '' Bromelia tarapotina'' Ule - Peru * '' Bromelia trianae'' Mez - Colombia * '' Bromelia tubulosa'' L.B. Smith - Venezuela + Brazil * '' Bromelia unaensis'' Leme & Scharf - Bahia * ''

Bromelia urbaniana ''Deinacanthon'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and gra ...

'' (Mez) L.B.Sm. - Paraguay + Argentina * ''

Bromelia villosa ''Bromelia villosa'' is a plant species in the genus ''Bromelia''. This species is native to Bolivia. References * villosa ''Villosa'' is a genus of freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve molluscs in the family Unionidae The Unionidae are ...

'' Mez - Bolivia + Brazil

Cultivation and uses

The resistant

fiber Fiber or fibre (from la, fibra, links=no) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorpora ...

obtained from ''B. serra'' and ''B. hieronymi'', both known as chaguar, is an essential component of the economy of the

Wichí The Wichí are an indigenous people of South America. They are a large group of tribes ranging about the headwaters of the Bermejo River and the Pilcomayo River, in Argentina and Bolivia. Notes on designation This ethnic group was named by the ...

tribe in the semi-arid

Gran Chaco The Gran Chaco or Dry Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semiarid lowland natural region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern Argentina, and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Gros ...

region of

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, t ...

. An 1841 publication described the fiber of silk grass ('' Bromelia karata'') as "equal in durability to our best bowstrings."

References

External links

List of Species at FCBS

BSI Genera Gallery
photos Bromeliaceae genera {{Bromelioideae-stub