Vriesea aka Vriesea

Vriesea is a genus of flowering plants in the Bromeliaceae family, named after the Dutch botanist Willem Hendrik de Vriese. These tropical plants are widespread across Mexico, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. They are known for their large size and ability to support a diverse range of insect fauna. In the wild, bromeliads like Vriesea can even serve as habitats for frogs throughout their entire life cycle. Similar to its close relative Guzmania, Vriesea produces dry capsules that release seeds resembling those of a Dandelion. Most Vriesea species are epiphytes, growing without soil on trees. Instead of roots, they have special holdfasts and obtain nutrients through a central "tank" formed by a rosette of leaves. One specific variety of Vriesea is called 'Smudge Grub', an evergreen perennial with lime green, strap-shaped leaves that are irregularly mottled and streaked with dark green. Its flowers form flattened spikes of yellow bracts with tubular, yellow flowers. Another variety is 'Astrid', a tender and compact evergreen perennial that forms a rosette of glossy, dark green, strap-shaped leaves. During summer, it produces erect racemes of scarlet bracts surrounding tubular, yellow flowers. Combined, these descriptions showcase the diverse characteristics of Vriesea, from its wide distribution and insect-attracting properties to its unique growth habits and striking flower displays in varieties like 'Smudge Grub' and 'Astrid'.