Bromeliads

The Bromeliaceae family counts about 60 genera and more than 1 400 species, only located in the hot regions of South America, Central America and Antilles (one species : Pitcairnia feliciana on the African continent in Guinea). Most of them are epiphytic plants, colonising the highest branches of the trees and even sometimes posts or electric wires !

They are herbaceous plants with short stem and the leaves are arranged in a characteristic "rosette". Some species (Tillandsia, Puya, Pitcairnia, Hechtia) have many scales on their leaves, protecting them from extreme sunning conditions in some environments; especially in altitude in the Andes Mountains. Other species (Aechma, Vriesa, etc…) are adapted to wet tropical forests and keep rain water in the middle of their "rosette". It then becomes the privileged place for a mini ecosystem.

The inflorescences spikes or heads often have brightly coloured bracts.

The pineapple is a bromeliad from Central America. It is a big plant with narrow leathery thorny leaves. After the bloom, which comes after 15 to 18 months of culture, it produces its characteristic infructescence. It is a tasty fruit, rich in various sugars and vitamin A, B and C. The fiber of the leaves is also used for making very thin textiles.

In the Lyon Botanical Garden the Bromeliads are represented by about 450 taxons belonging to 32 genera, mainly shared out in the hot greenhouses, in the orchids showcases and in the big greenhouses.