Bromeliad Plant (Bromeliaceae)

Also known as the Air Plant because they absorb nutrients and moisture from the atmosphere. There are more than 2,700 species of Bromeliads, one being the pineapple which entered recorded history when Columbus introduced the pineapple (Ananus Comosus) to Spain in 1493. Hundreds of these Bromeliad plants can grow on the branches of trees, causing them to break with the weight. Many have stiff, overlapping leaves which hold rainfall and other debris which helps algae and other small organisms to grow. These in turn, feed other organisms. It is like a small eco-system and animals like tree frogs, mosquitoes, crabs and salamanders, might spend their entire lives inside these plants. I bought this lovely specimen when out shopping with my daughter as a decorative indoor plant.