Submitted by: Jim Tanner and Mike Short
NOTE: Only plants in the following genera will be accepted at the Mini Show … Acanthostachys, Aechmea, Ananas, Bromelia, Cryptanthus, Deuterochonia, Orthophytum, Puya, and Tillandsia.
Succulent bromeliads are those that have adapted to arid conditions through the ability to store water.
The Bromeliads, like Cacti and Agavaceae are a New World family. Like the Cacti they have evolved to cover a range of environments, from the Coastal Mountains of Chile, to the plains of Argentina, to the Amazon, the dry scrub and Montane forests of Brazil, all of Central America and Mexico, the off-shore Islands, and even the temperate regions of Argentina and the United States.
There are at least three regions where gradual climatic change forced some Bromeliad genera (and some species of other genera) to become succulent. The best known of the succulent genera are Puya, which are mostly Andean plants, and the Tillandsia, which inhabit regions from Virginia to Argentina. However there are some spectacular succulents in other genera as well.
Aechmea are prized for their striking foliage and long-lasting flower spikes. They hail from Mexico to the tropical Americas. These bromeliads are usually very easy to grow in bright sun or dappled shade (depending on the species). Most species are tank-forming epiphytes, meaning that they grow attached to tree limbs and trunk and collect water in the vase formed by their leaves. As houseplants, they are tolerant of dry air and occasionally dry roots as long as the central tank is kept full of water. Water and liquid fertilizer (diluted to half-strength) should be applied to the central tank, allowing any overflow to trickle down into the root ball. The potting mix should be well-draining. A special, bark-based orchid mix is good, or a light, well-draining houseplant mix will work. Do not allow the root ball to remain in soggy soil. After the plant flowers, it will produce offsets at its base. They can be separated from the mother plant when they are about one-third of the mother’s size. After the flowering plant produces offsets, it will die. Propagation is by division of the rhizome, or by seeds.
Orthophytum is a less known genus with a significant number of succulent species. This genus comes from Brazil, and the genus for the most part occupies a warm and humid environment. Many of the Orthophytum are spectacularly flocked with special cells (trichomes) that pull moisture directly out of the air. Bands of trichome rich and trichome poor regions on the leaves give these plants a spectacular coloring. As with Dyckia, there are a wealth of hybrids, with many be created in Florida, which is really more to their liking than the dry inner valleys of California.
Puya is another succulent genus, largely in the Andes, and with the largest number of species on the Western side of the mountains. Many of the Puya species are gigantic, some reaching tree-like dimensions before flowering. Others can be kept in a pot, at least for a few years. Many Puya have leaves that carry seedling leaf impressions, much like the Agave.
Deuterocohnia (=Abromeiteilla) is also popular.
Members of this genus are found in Argentina and Bolivia. The multiple small rosettes form spreading mounds. If they are grown in enough light, the rosettes are very tight and at some of the shows there are often large dome shaped specimens. In the wild, they can grow over and on rocks. The readily available species are:
D. brevifolia grows outdoors at the Huntington Botanical Garden and forms a nice mound about 3 feet across. The triangular leaves have margins that are spineless. The flowers are tubular in shape and greenish in color.
D. brevifolia subs. chlorantha is an even smaller species with rosettes only 30 mm across. The leaves have a small terminal spine and the leaf margins have tiny teeth. This is the smallest of all terrestrial bromeliads.
D. lorenziana is a larger growing species but similar to the above.
Tillandsia is a genus of around 650 species of perennials. Also known as “Air Plants” because most are epiphytic which means “living on another plant” mostly hanging in trees although they will hang on to anything they can even rocks. Some are aerophytes having a minimal root system they grow on shifting desert sand. They are native to the forests, mountains and deserts of southeastern United States and northern Mexico, and from the Caribbean South to central Argentina. Their leaves carry cells (trichomes) capable of quickly absorbing water that falls on them.
Many species of Tillandsia prefer to live in a humid climate such as a rain forest or one where there is coastal fog. Flowers are usually bright and are in a variety of colors. Pollinators include moths, hummingbirds, and bats. Tillandsia usneoides is commonly known as “Spanish Moss”. They are capable of performing crassulacean acid metabolism (Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassulacean_acid_metabolism) so they are considered succulents.
Non-succulent photos
The meanings of latin plant names on this page – from http://davesgarden.com/guides/botanary/
- Acanthostachys [a-kan-tho-STAK-iss, a-kan-tho-STAY-kiss]
From the Greek kantha (thorn) and stachys (spike); the flower spikes are spiny. - Aechmea [EEK-mee-uh, EK-mee-uh]
From the Greek aikhme, meaning point of a spear. - ampullacea [am-pul-uh-KEE-uh, am-pul-uh-SEE-uh]
Flask-shaped. - Ananas [A-nan-as, AN-uh-nus]
Pineapple. - bracteatus [brak-tee-AY-tus]
Having bracts (modified leaves directly beneath the flower). - brevifolia [brev-ee-FOH-lee-uh]
Short leaves. - chantinii [chan-tee-nee-ee]
For Antoine Chantin, 19 th century french horticulturist . - comosus [kom-OH-sus]
Hairy. - Deuterocohnia [doo-ter-oh-KON-ee-uh]
Second Cohnia (acknowledging the existing genus Cohnia); named for Ferdinand Julius Cohn, 19th century German botanist. - Dyckia [DY-kee-uh, DIK-ee-uh]
Named for Prince Joseph Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck, 19th century botanist and author of book on succulents. - Dyckia [DY-kee-uh, DIK-ee-uh]
Named for Prince Joseph Salm-Reifferscheid-Dyck, 19th century botanist and author of book on succulents. - estevesii [es-teh-VEZ-ee-eye]
Named for Eddie Esteves Pereira, 20th century Brazilian researcher and cactus collector. - fosteriana [fos-ter-ee-AY-nuh]
Named for Mulford Bateman Foster, 20th century American horticulturist who provided many specimens to the botanist Lymen B. Smith. - Hechtia [HEK-tee-uh]
Named for Julius Gottfried Conrad Hecht, 19th century counsellor to the King of Prussia. - lorentziana [lor-ent-zee-AH-nuh, lor-ent-zee-AY-nuh]
Named for 19th century explorer H. A. Lorentz, who explored New Guinea. - macedoi [ma-SAY-do-eye]
Named for Amaro Macedo, 20th century Brazilian botanist and collector. - mirabilis [mih-RAB-ih-liss]
Wonderful. - Orthophytum [orth-oh-FY-tum]
Straight plant. - platyphylla [plat-TY-fil-uh]
Broad leaved. - Pseudananas [soo-do-AN-a-nas]
From the Greek pseudo (false) and Ananas (pineapple genus). - Puya [POO-yuh]
The Chilean vernacular name. - recurvata [rek-er-VAY-tuh]
Bent backwards. - remotiflora [re-mo-tee-FLOR-uh]
Flowers apart from each other, presumably on stems. - strobilacea [stroh-BIL-uh-say]
Cone-like. - texensis [teck-SEN-sis]
Of or from Texas (U.S.) - tricolor [TRY-kull-lur]
Three color. - venusta [ven-NUSS-tuh]
Beautiful, charming.
Attribution:
Deuterocohnia brevifolia: James Steakley / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Deuterocohnia_lorentziana: User:BotBln / CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)