Bromeliads are a varied group of organisms, adapted to a number of climates. Foliage takes different shapes, from needle-thin to broad and flat, symmetrical to irregular, spiky to soft. The foliage, which usually grows in a rosette, is the most widely patterned and colored of any plant in the world. Leaf colors range from maroon, through shades of green, to gold. Varieties may have leaves with red, yellow, white and cream variations. Others may be spotted with purple, red, or cream, while others have different colors on the tops and bottoms of the leaves.
The inflorescences produced by
bromeliads are also regarded as considerably more diverse than any other plant family. Some flower spikes may reach 10 meters tall, while others only measure 2–3 mm across. Upright stalks may be branched or simple with spikes retaining their color from two weeks up to 12 months, depending on species. In some species, the flower remains unseen, growing deep in the base of the plants.
Root systems vary according to plant type. Terrestrial
bromeliad species have complex root systems that gather water and nutrients, while epiphytic bromeliads only grow hard, wiry roots to attach themselves to trees and rocks.
Bromeliad Flower at US Botanic Garden
Some
bromeliads are faintly scented, while others are heavily perfumed. Blooms from the species
Tillandsia cyanea resemble the smell of clove spice.
One study found 175,000
bromeliads per hectare (2.5 acres) in one forest; that many
bromeliads can sequester 50,000 liters (more than 13,000 gallons) of water.
A wide variety of organisms takes advantage of the pools of water trapped by
bromeliads. A study of 209 plants from the Ecuadorian lowlands identified 11,219 animals, representing more than 300 distinct species, many of which are found only on
bromeliads. Examples include some species of ostracods, small salamanders about 2.5 cm (1 in) in length, and tree frogs. Jamaican
bromeliads are home to
Metopaulias depressus, a reddish-brown crab 2 cm (0.75 inch) across, which has evolved social behavior to protect its young from predation by
Diceratobasis macrogaster, a species of damselfly whose larvae live in
bromeliads. Some bromeliads even form homes for other species of
bromeliads
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Bromeliaceae
