Neoregelia flandria

The genus Neoregelia belongs to the Bromeliaceae family and the Bromelioideae subfamily. It includes around 100 species, primarily native to the humid tropical forests of South America, especially Brazil.

Botanical Characteristics:

• Growth Habit & Morphology: Epiphytic or terrestrial plants forming a dense rosette of overlapping leaves, often rigid and leathery.
• Leaves: Linear to lanceolate, with finely serrated or spiny margins. They can be solid-colored, variegated, or patterned, with vibrant hues that intensify before flowering.
• Inflorescence: Typically sessile, submerged within the rosette, consisting of tubular flowers, often violet or blue. The associated bracts are sometimes colorful and persistent.
• Root System: Shallow and primarily used for anchoring rather than water absorption, well adapted to epiphytic growth.
• Reproduction: Through basal offsets (vegetative propagation) or seeds. The mother plant dies after flowering, but new offsets ensure the continuation of the cycle.
• Ecology & Adaptation: Well-suited to humid, shaded environments, it collects water and nutrients in its central rosette, creating a micro-ecosystem that supports various organisms.