Bromeliads
What are they?
The bromeliads are best known as tropical plants that grow as epiphytes on the branches of rainforest trees. But this is a large family and two tetterstrial-growing species from more temperate southern South America are established on the isles of Scilly.
Note: I have used vernacular names for these two species that have been taken from their native range in Chile. The English names that have been coined in the past have no relevance to these two species so it makes sense to use pre-existing names, rather than invent new ones such that names never become stable.
Bromeliad Family - Bromeliaceae
Puñeñe Fascicularia bicolor(Rhodostachys) Native to Chile. Introduced as an ornamental and planted in coastal areas and on walls on St Mary's and Tresco and, to a lesser extent, on St Agnes and Bryher. Flowers July to October. Plants are all green until the run-up to flowering, when red centres develop in the leaf rosettes, presumably to attract pollinators. Flowers pale lilac-blue.
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Cardoncillo Ochagavia carnea
(Tresco Rhodostachys) Native to Chile. Introduced as an ornamental and spreading from original plantings in the dunes on Tresco. Flowers July to September. Smaller than Puñeñe and without the red tints to the stouter-spined leaves.
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