BROMILIAD SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATIONS:
KINGDOM: PLANTAE
DIVISION: MAGNOLIOPHYTA
CLASS: LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTS)
ORDER: POALES
FAMILY: BROMELIACEAE The family Bromeliaceae is divided into three subfamilies: Pitcairnioideae, Bromelioideae and Tillandsioideae.
SUBFAMILIES:
Pitcairnioideae This subfamily contains the most ancestral bromeliads and many resemble the grass family from which they evolved. Almost all are terrestrial and rely on an extensive root system for their moisture and nutrients. They are generally spiny leaved and dry capsules with small wingless seeds.
Bromelioideae
This subfamily is the most diverse containing the greatest number of genera (but the least number of species). Most species in this subfamily are epiphytic and characterized by a rosette-like form many forming a water holding tank. They generally have spiny leaves and berry like fruits containing wet seeds which are often distributed by birds and animals who consume the fruits.
Tillandsioideae
This subfamily contains very few genera but includes the most number of species. Most of the members of this subfamily are epiphytes. All have spineless leaves and their fruit is a dry capsule containing winged seeds which are usually dispersal by breezes. The feathery plumes also help the seed to adhere to a suitable epiphytic surface for germination. This subfamily is probably the most evolved with special adaptations for survival in very dry (xeric) conditions.
Genera by Subfamily
Taxonomists continue to work on the bromeliad family, describing new species (and sometimes reducing an existing species to synonymy with another species). Occasionally a new genus will be described or a subgenus will be elevated to the rank of genus and other times an entire genus will disappear, incorporated into another genus. Any taxonomic listing must be viewed as the current state of the art in an ongoing process of refinement. The listing shown here follows LUTHER & SIEFF (1998) but is by no means final (much work needs to be done in the genera Aechmea, Guzmania, Tillandsia and others). Additional information about bromeliad genera can be found in AN ANNOTATED CATALOG OF THE GENERIC NAMES OF THE BROMELIACEAE by Jason R. Grant.
| BROMELIACEAE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitcairnioideae | Tillandsioideae | Bromelioideae | |
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SPECIES OR GENERA:
- Abromeitiella Mez
- Acanthostachys Klotzsch
- Aechmea Ruiz & Pav.
- Ananas Mill. - Includes the pineapple.
- Andrea Mez
- Androlepis Brongn ex Houllet
- Araeococcus Brongn
- Ayensua L.B.Sm.
- Billbergia Thunb.
- Brewcaria L.B.Sm., Steyerm. & H.Rob
- Brocchinia Schult.f.
- Bromelia L.
- Canistrum E.Morren
- Catopsis Griseb.
- Connellia N.E.Br.
- Cottendorfia Schult.f.
- Cryptanthus Otto & A.Dietr.
- Deuterocohnia Mez
- Disteganthus Lem.
- Dyckia Schult.f.
- Encholirium Mart. ex Schult.f.
- Fascicularia Mez
- Fernseea Baker
- Fosterella L.B.Sm.
- Glomeropitcairnia Mez
- Greigia Regel
- Guzmania Ruiz & Pav.
- Hechtia Klotzsch
- Hohenbergia Schult.f.
- Hohenbergiopsis L.B.Sm. & Read
- Lindmania Mez
- Lymania Read
- Mezobromelia L.B.Sm
- Navia Schult.f.
- Neoglaziovia Mez
- Neoregelia L.B.Sm.
- Nidularium Lem.
- Ochagavia Phil.
- Orthophytum Beer
- Pitcairnia L'Her.
- Portea K. Koch
- Pseudaechmea L.B.Sm. & Read
- Pseudananas Hassl. ex Harms
- Puya Molina
- Quesnelia Gaudich.
- Ronnbergia E.Morren & Andre
- Steyerbromelia L.B.Sm
- Streptocalyx Beer
- Tillandsia L.
- Vriesia Lindl.
- Werauhia J.R.Grant
- Wittrockia Lindm.
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Cultivation and uses
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 house plants.