Bromeliaceae is a large family of over 3,400 species in 75 genera widely distributed in the New World from Virginia and Arizona in the United States south to Chile and Argentina, and at elevations from sea level to over 3,000 m. A single species is found in West Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana.
The family was named after Olaus Bromelius (1639–1707), a Swedish medical doctor and botanist. The Bromeliaceae
has been traditionally divided into three subfamilies based on foliage and fruit and seed characters: the Bromelioideae, Pitcairnioideae, and Tillandsioideae. More recent studies based on DNA show eight major subfamilies.
The bromeliad family is composed of perennial herbs that are terrestrial, saxicolous (growing on rocks), or epiphytic. Roots are usually present, but often poorly developed in the epiphytic taxa, serving mostly as hold-fasts. Most bromeliads have their leaves arranged in a spiral rosette, creating a “water tank” that collects water and debris. The leaves are also covered with specialized scales (trichomes) that absorb water and dissolved nutrients, and may be heavily armed with spines or completely lack spines. Many insects and other organisms use these reservoirs as their home. Inflorescences are frequently showy. The actinomorphic to strongly zygomorphic 3-merous flowers with six stamens are usually pollinated by bi
rds and insects, less often by bats, and possibly by wind in a few species. Seeds typically are dispersed by wind or gravity in the capsular-fruited species and by birds, mammals, or less commonly insects in fleshy-fruited species.
The pineapple, Ananas comosus, is the only agriculturally important member of the family, and is cultivated worldwide in tropical climates. A few additional taxa are cultivated or harvested from the wild for fruit or fiber for local use. Many species and artificial hybrids of bromeliads are popular ornamentals around the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.
The Bromeliaceae, largely through the efforts of the Mulford B. Foster Bromeliad Identification Center, has long been a core family of research and horticultural interest at Selby Gardens.
Harry E. Luther-Victoria Padilla Bromeliad Society International Fund
The HEL-VP BSI Fund provides monies for advanced students or professional bromeliad botanist to conduct research on the family and to visit Selby Gardens to consult its collections and other resources. For more information, visit https://www.bsi.org/new/the-harry-e-luther-research-conservation-and-education-fund/
Bromeliad Research Center
The Mulford B. Foster Bromeliad Research Center (BRC) was established to honor one of the world’s leading bromeliad collectors. It has been widely supported by local, national, and international bromeliad societies. The goal of the BRC is to serve
as a source of information for individuals, institutions, and societies on horticultural and botanical aspects of the Bromeliaceae. Over the years, BRC staff and many volunteers have amassed a collection of more than 3000 taxonomic reference files and a large collection of photographic slides and digital images. Additionally, Selby Gardens’ holdings of more than 13,000 bromeliad herbarium specimens and nearly 3500 live bromeliad accessions provide a wealth of materials for many types of studies, including classification, morphology, anatomy, and physiology.
Geographically, the collection is well-represented by collections from Central America, Andean South America, and Brazil. Important collectors represented include Harry E. Luther, John Anderson, Stephan Beck, Wally Berg, Libby Besse, Julio Betancur, Dennis Cathcart, John L. Clark, Xavier Cornejo, Stig Dalström
, Wilmer DĂaz, Calaway Dodson, Alwyn Gentry, Jason R. Grant, Alexander Hirtz, Bruce Holst, H. Hromadnik, Pierre Ibisch, Michael Kessler, Chester Skota
k, James Solomon, Walter Till, G.S. Varadarajan, and Rodolfo Vásquez.
Scientific institutions seeking species-level identifications of Guayana Shield and northern Amazonian bromeliads may submit herbarium specimens for identification to Selby Garden’s research center. BRC resources are available to qualified students of the Bromeliad Family. Please contact us for more information.
Country Checklists (pdf format)
Continental United States
Costa Rica
Mexico
Venezuela
Guzmania of Venezuela
Guianas
Bolivia
The BRC is generously supported by the Bromeliad Society International and numerous worldwide affiliates.