Tank Bromeliads by sandra46

Photography • Flowers/Plants • posted on Jul 09, 2009

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Description

I'm sure most of you will recognize these plants, and the 'tank' in the previous post. In fact it's a favorite indoor decorative plant, and you can often see it, even in plastic imitations, in restaurants, hotels, and offices, beacuse it requires minimal care. The bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae) consists of 51 genera and about 1,500 strictly American species. They grow from the dry deserts of southwestern United States to equatorial tropical rain forests. Based on growth habits and other characteristics, Bromeliaceae is divided into the subfamilies Pitcairnioideae, Tillandsioideae and Bromelioideae. The family includes both epiphytes, such as Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), and terrestrial species, such as the pineapple (Ananas comosus). Many bromeliads are able to store water in a "tank" formed by their tightly-overlapping leaf bases. However, the family is diverse enough to include the tank bromeliads, grey-leaved epiphytic Tillandsia species that gather water only from leaf structures called trichomes, and a large number of desert-dwelling succulents. The tank bromeliad, which traps water in its crowns, provides a habitat for salamanders, frogs, and many aquatic insects and larvae. 'Tank bromeliads' possess modified rosettes that collect rainwater and organic debris. Many tank bromeliads are epiphytes, which means that they grow on other plants without parasitising them. Tank bromeliads are able to live this way because the tank provides them with an alternative source of water and nutrients than the ground soil. Light can be a major limiting factor for plants on the forest floor and the epiphytic lifestyle offers the advantage of access to higher light concentrations without costly investment in large trunks and roots as used by trees. Only one bromeliad, the pineapple (Ananas comosus), is a commercially important food crop. Many other bromeliads are popular ornamental plants, grown as both garden and houseplants. Thank you for your kind comments.

Comments (26)

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flora-crassella

4:39PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

wonderful plants! Great collage! Very interesting photos!!!!!

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brycek

4:59PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

Beautiful collage and information!!

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MOSKETON

5:04PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

FANTASTICO COLLAGE, FELICIDADES.

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lyron

5:22PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

Beautiful plants. great collage!!

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carlx

5:29PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

Impressive collage!!!

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Minda

5:34PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

excellent collage and great info sandra!!

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bmac62

6:20PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

Now I am with you. Excellent collage and just the info I needed to catch up to the field:)

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magnus073

7:00PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

They really are amazing Sandra and this is a splendid collage

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pops

8:04PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

What a fantastic collage

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amota99517

8:36PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

This is really nice collage work!

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danapommet

10:07PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

Beautiful collage and narrative. Dana

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Radar_rad-dude

10:40PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

A most gorgeous collage! Such brilliant colors and magnificent foliage! You must really be in photographers heaven! Happy traveling!

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Amosicho

11:25PM | Thu, 09 July 2009

Beautiful!

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Umbetro38

12:42AM | Fri, 10 July 2009

I agree here with flora-crassella - wow

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Hendesse

12:58AM | Fri, 10 July 2009

Excellent and very beautiful collage. Looks superb!

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claude19

3:26AM | Fri, 10 July 2009

I am very happy to learn more today !!! I don't know this plant and her flowers !!! WONDERFUL shots and collage ! GREAT THANKS for your comment and picture !!!

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