Aechmea bromeliifolia

Description

Aechmea bromeliifolia is a bromeliad native to southern Mexico, Central America, Trinidad, and South America as far south as northern Argentina. Aechmea bromeliifolia can be found growing on the ground or as an epiphyte both in hot jungles and in arid regions at an altitude of up to 2,500 feet. It grows bright green leaves that have prominent spines and a bottle-shaped rosette. The branched inflorescence bears red bracts with greenish-yellow petals; the flowers are followed by black berries that are considered edible. The red form of this plant is sometimes sold as Aechmea Schiedeana. Aechmea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae (subfamily Bromelioideae). The name comes from the Greek aichme, meaning "spear". Aechmea comprises eight subgenera and around 250 species distributed from Mexico through South America and the Caribbean. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes.