bromeliads in bloom

[pavel]

Bruce, the purple-blue parts are the actual flower, the pink is refered to as the inflorescence, and each pink 'petal-looking' thing isn't a petal it's a bract, a modified leaf to make it look like a petal to attract pollinators.

Ah well, look like Drew beat me to the botany lesson for today! A vendor I know has quite a collection of gorgeous broms. Alas, most broms simply get far too large for my limited space.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Bruce, the purple-blue parts are the actual flower, the pink is refered to as the inflorescence, and each pink 'petal-looking' thing isn't a petal it's a bract, a modified leaf to make it look like a petal to attract pollinators. The second bomeliad i think is some kind of Neoregelia.

Thanks for this information, Drew.

Cheers,
BD

[ironchef6314]

Ah well, look like Drew beat me to the botany lesson for today! A vendor I know has quite a collection of gorgeous broms. Alas, most broms simply get far too large for my limited space.

Pavel, I too have very limited space, but one of my favorite bromeliads is the Billbergia nutans (Queen's-Tears), it keeps a compact upright form, which is perfect if you don't have alot of room and as a bonus it has one of the most beautiful blooms also!!! We just got a lot of rain here so the foliage is a little discolored, it usually has a silvery-lavender-green color. As another little space saving tip, I just thow my tillandsias in with a Rhyncholaelia digbyana I have in a basket. I actually have 5 diff. ones in it and some of them mounted on the side with wire, i dont have a photo of it but i can probably get one tomorrow.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Drew, that is an awesome bloom! I love the coloring in it.

Cheers,
BD

[espranch]

Now, that is one of the most beautiful color combinations that I have ever seen...and it's not even an orchid! Betty :-)

[Raver]

wow i love the coloring especially the blue =)

[Tmai]

Hi Bruce, don't know the formal name but we call that (pink bract, purple flower) one Silver Vase. I've been told that once the plant blooms it throws off babies and the mama plant dies but I've not found that to be completely the case. Some of my 'mothers' have bloomed again along with their babies! Great pic of a beautiful brom.

Tami

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Bruce, don't know the formal name but we call that (pink bract, purple flower) one Silver Vase. I've been told that once the plant blooms it throws off babies and the mama plant dies but I've not found that to be completely the case. Some of my 'mothers' have bloomed again along with their babies! Great pic of a beautiful brom.

Tami

Thanks for the information. I don't believe it dies as it has 'bloomed' before. It would be cool if it made some babies though. I would have some to trade then.

Cheers,
BD

[pavel]

Sweet bloom, Drew!

Typically the mother plant does die after blooming and then forming some 'pups'. Sometimes a pup will form directly from the crown of the mother plant as I understand it.

[ironchef6314]

Here's those tillandsias that are in with the Rhyncholaelia digbyana, the little orchid hanging of the right side is an oncidium popoki 'mitzii'