Bromeliads

Tillandsias are bromeliads, relatives of the Pineapple plant. Often referred to as "air plants," they are epiphytes that grow on trees but only use the trees for support - they are not parasites. Spanish Moss is another well known Tillandsia and grows in the southern USA, the northern limit for bromeliads. Bromeliads not only grow there, however, but down through Mexico, Central America and South America. I used to grow as many bromeliads as orchids but now only grow a few Tillandsias with my orchids.

Aechmea fasciata is another Bromeliad, related to the plant whose flowers I posted a few days ago and related, too, to the Pineapple plant. These flowers are often sold as houseplants for their long-lasting and large pink flower spikes. The pink part, however, is not actually flowers, but the flowers are the tiny, short-lived blue "tubes" that appear between the pink bracts. This plant belongs to my son and was photographed in his house in Michigan.

Photographed in the conservatory at Manito City Park, Spokane. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2010/08/manito-city...

This was taken at the conservatory of the Manito City Park in Spokane. It was a very dark day and difficult to get enough light without a flash. This picture was taken at an ISO of 2000 and demonstrates nicely some of the capabilities of the new Canon 7D. There is some noise, but not nearly as much as one would expect at such a high ISO.

This small but colorful Bromeliad is sometimes referred to as the "Sky Plant." It is epiphytic and grows on the branches of trees using them for support but getting it's nourishment from the rain and debris that falls from the tree. The plant is green but the center turns red just before blooming as is the case with many Bromeliads.

Photographed in the Bromeliad House at the Devonian Botanic Gardens, Devon, Alberta, Canada. I have always loved and grown bromeliads and this is one of my favorites.

In Explore June 1, 2009, #128. I posted an earlier closeup of one flower - this is a shot of the whole flower spike with one flower fully open and one starting to go by.

Unfortunately this plant only opens one flower at a time. In Explore May 13, 2009, #376.