Vriesea

• Authority

  Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1977. Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (2): 663-1492. (Published by NYBG Press)

• Family

  Bromeliaceae

• Scientific Name

  Vriesea

• Type

  Type species. Tillandsia psittacina Hooker, Bot. Mag. 55: pl. 2841. 1828.

• Synonyms

  Hexalepis Raf., Tillandsia psittacina E. Norton, Thecophyllum, Cipuropsis, Cipuropsis subandina Ule, Neovriesia Britton ex Britton & Wilson, Tillandsia psittacina E. Norton, Alcantarea, Vriesea imperialis Carrière, Tillandsia psittacina E. Norton

• Description

  Description - Acaulescent perennial usually epiphytic herbs. Leaves rosulate, polystichous, entire; blades predominantly ligulate and inconspicuously lepidote; leaf-scales centrally symmetric. Scape usually conspicuous. Inflorescence various, usually of distichous-flowered spikes, rarely of one or more polystichous-flowered spikes, the distichous flowers becoming secund in many species. Floral bracts generally conspicuous; flowers perfect, mostly short-pedicellate. Sepals convolute, free or nearly so, symmetric or subsymmetric. Petals free or connate in a tube much shorter than the sepals, bearing 2 scales at base (Mez’s report of a single scale each in V. triligulata Mez never verified), firm and erect or soon flaccid and drooping. Stamens included or exserted. Ovary nearly or quite superior. Ovules many, usually caudate. Fruit capsular. Seeds fusiform with a long straight basal coma.