''Wittrockia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of plants in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The genus name is for Veit Brecher Wittrock, a Swedish botanist (1839-1914).Bromeliad Society International

read on line] These plants are native to

Central America Central America is a subregion of North America. Its political boundaries are defined as bordering Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Central America is usually ...

and

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

. Many species are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the Atlantic Forest biome (''Mata Atlantica Brasileira''), located in southeastern

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

.DPI.inpe.br: "BROMELIACEAE da MATA ATLÂNTICA BRASILEIRA: Lista de ESPÉCIES, DISTRIBUIÇÃO e CONSERVAÇÃO"
''Rodriguésia 59'', February 2008; ppg 209−258; article−, abstract− species lists−. accessed 30 May 2016.

Description

''Wittrockia'' is large among bromeliad genera, producing long, glossy leaves armed with sharp spines. Forming rosettes over 1 meter in diameter, the foliage may contain various colors of spots and banding, depending on species. Their

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

blooms deep in the vase where the plant catches water.

Species

* '' Wittrockia cyathiformis'' (Vellozo) Leme * '' Wittrockia flavipetala'' (Wand.) Leme & H.Luther * '' Wittrockia gigantea'' (Baker) Leme * '' Wittrockia paulistana'' Leme * '' Wittrockia spiralipetala'' Leme * '' Wittrockia superba'' Lindman * ''

Wittrockia tenuisepala ''Wittrockia tenuisepala'' is a plant species in the genus '' Wittrockia''. This bromeliad is endemic to the Atlantic Forest biome (''Mata Atlantica Brasileira'') within Minas Gerais state, located in southeastern Brazil Brazil, officiall ...

'' (Leme) Leme

Cultivation

''Wittrockia'' species are adaptable to varying climates and light exposure. Their attractive foliage has made them popular in cultivation as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

References

External links

Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies - Wittrockia PhotosBSI Genera Gallery
Wittrockia Photos {{Taxonbar, from=Q8028637 Flora of Brazil Flora of Central America Flora of Southern America Bromeliaceae genera