Aechmea mulfordii
Encyclopedia
Aechmea mulfordii which is native to Brazil
, as well as the other plants in this genus
are mostly epiphytic, which means that they live up in the branches of the trees and exist mainly on the moisture
and nutrients they obtain from the air. However, Aechmea mulfordii is a large terrestrial plant
, growing near the sea level
on sand dunes.
Aechmea mulfordii has leathery green leaves ligulate or sword-shaped. The leaves may grow to 1 m (3ft) in length, at times much less, and form a central vase, which, in cultivation, should be kept filled with water. On this species, the primary bract greatly exceeds the lowermost branch. The flower-spikes sent up from the heart or crown of the plant are red panicle with the three outer sepaloid segments longer than the three inner or petaloid ones. Frequently confused with A. rubens
and A. emmerichiae
, A. mulfordii has less dense and elaborate inflorescence than A. rubens and the long, broad floral bracts conceal the ovary.
has been given by taxonomists because of the characteristically sharp points of the sepal
s and of the bract
s covering the flower buds. The word aechmea comes from the Greek
word "aichme" which means "spear tip".
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, as well as the other plants in this genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
are mostly epiphytic, which means that they live up in the branches of the trees and exist mainly on the moisture
Moisture
Humidity is the amount of moisture the air can hold before it rains. Moisture refers to the presence of a liquid, especially water, often in trace amounts...
and nutrients they obtain from the air. However, Aechmea mulfordii is a large terrestrial plant
Terrestrial plant
A terrestrial plant is one that grows on land. Other types of plants are aquatic , epiphytic , lithophytes and aerial ....
, growing near the sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
on sand dunes.
Aechmea mulfordii has leathery green leaves ligulate or sword-shaped. The leaves may grow to 1 m (3ft) in length, at times much less, and form a central vase, which, in cultivation, should be kept filled with water. On this species, the primary bract greatly exceeds the lowermost branch. The flower-spikes sent up from the heart or crown of the plant are red panicle with the three outer sepaloid segments longer than the three inner or petaloid ones. Frequently confused with A. rubens
Aechmea rubens
Aechmea rubens is a species of the genus Aechmea.-Cultivars:* Aechmea 'Isabel D'Bellard'* Aechmea 'Laura Lynn'* Aechmea 'Tropica'-References:* Retrieved 11 October 2009...
and A. emmerichiae
Aechmea emmerichiae
Aechmea emmerichiae is a species of the genus Aechmea. This species is endemic to Brazil.-References:* retrieved 22 October 2009...
, A. mulfordii has less dense and elaborate inflorescence than A. rubens and the long, broad floral bracts conceal the ovary.
Mythology
The name of the genus AechmeaAechmea
Aechmea is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. The name comes from the Greek “aichme” . Aechmea has 8 subgenera and 255 species distributed from Mexico through South America...
has been given by taxonomists because of the characteristically sharp points of the sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and of the bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s covering the flower buds. The word aechmea comes from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word "aichme" which means "spear tip".