The american plant family of the Bromeliaceae comprises a relatively large group of plants with a huge distribution area from the south-east of the USA throughout Latin America until Argentina. The bromeliad family is named after the Swedish physician and botanist Olaf Bromelius (1639-1705) and since then carries his name which makes beat faster the hearts of collectors and connoisseurs just by hearing the name of this fantastic group of plants.
The family of the Bromeliaceae is divided into 8 subfamilies from which the three most important subfamilies probably would be the Bromelioideae , Tillandsioideae and Pitcairnioideae.
Plants of the Bromelioideae are known for their water-filled tanks and therefore often referred to as a tank bromeliad. Among the most important genera of this subfamily we need to mention Aechmea, Billbergia, Guzmania, Neoregelia.
Genera of the subfamily of the Tillandsioideae are Alcantarea, Tillandsia and Vriesea. As with the members of the Bromelioideae plants of the Tillandsioideae have an epiphytic lifestyle as well.
The third important subfamily the Pitcairnioideae are presented by genera which mainly show a terrestrial (growing in soil) lifestyle . Examples for this group are members of the genera Deuterocohnia, Dyckia and Pitcairnia.
To better understand the interesting bromeliads and also to cultivate them successfully one must be aware about the meaning of the term " epiphytic lifestyle ". The meaning of the word is derived from the greek word epi - on/over and phyton - plant. Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants. The epiphytic way of life is not only common to the bromeliads you can also find it among plenty other plant families such as in the orchids, cacti, ferns and many more. At this point however it is important to mention that epiphytes are no parasites and do not harm the plants they grow on. The reason for this unusual lifestyle of the bromeliads is the lower light availability on the ground of the tropical and subtropical forests. Through the colonization of the tree crowns bromeliads and other epiphytes achive better light supply which is essential for photosynthesis and thus for the growth of each plant.
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