Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae): tropical rosette plants, pineapple and air plants

Distribution and notable species

Most bromeliads originate in Central and South America and across the islands of the Caribbean. Many common references cite their Neotropical concentration, with cultivated and wild species found from tropical lowlands to mountain cloud forests. A well-known cultivated member is the pineapple, while several genera are popular as colourful indoor plants: see examples of modern bromeliad houseplants. An unusual exception to the New World distribution is a single native African species; another outlier found in the southeastern United States is Spanish moss.

Form and adaptations

Bromeliads show characteristic rosettes of leaves that often form cups or "tanks" to capture rainwater. Many species are epiphytic, using trees merely for support; others grow on soil or rock. Leaf surfaces commonly bear specialised scales or trichomes that absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Several bromeliads use CAM photosynthesis and other drought-adapted strategies.

• Growth forms: terrestrial, epiphytic, saxicolous (rock-dwelling)
• Water storage: tanks, trichomes, succulent leaves
• Reproduction: flowers followed by seeds and vegetative offsets (pups)

Uses, ecology and cultivation

Bromeliads have ecological roles as microhabitats—tank bromeliads support insects, amphibians and invertebrates—and are widely grown for ornamental value. The cultivated pineapple is of economic importance for its fruit, while many genera (for example, Tillandsia species often sold as "air plants") are prized in horticulture; see general care guides for popular houseplants. Their native ranges include much of Latin America and the Caribbean, with isolated occurrences elsewhere such as the African species noted above (Africa).

Conservation and notable facts
Habitat loss and illegal collection threaten some species, especially specialised epiphytes that depend on intact forest canopies. Spanish moss and other Tillandsioideae members are familiar in landscapes, while the diversity of forms across the Bromeliaceae illustrates evolutionary adaptation to varied tropical niches.