Re: What is the relationship between bromeliads, orchids, and epiphytes?

Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) and orchids (Orchidaceae) are both families of 
flowering plants. 

Bromeliads all have a rosette of leaves with tiny leaf scales called trichomes. 
Pineapple is the most economically important bromeliad. Many bromeliads are 
grown as ornamental plants. Many so called "air plants" are bromeliads.

Orchids are the largest or one of the largest families of flowering plants with 
over 20,000 species. They have a characteristic flower structure including a 
family-unique column formed by fusion of stamens and pistil, special sacs of 
pollen called pollinia and often very specialized pollination relationships 
with insects. They also have huge numbers of tiny, dust-like seeds. Orchids are 
grown for their spectacular flowers. The vanilla orchid is the source of 
vanilla.
 
Epiphyte means "on a plant" and is a general term for a plant that often lacks 
normal roots but lives on another plant or even on telephone poles or telephone 
wires, buildings, etc. rather than on soil. Epiphytes use the host plant for 
support only therefore mistletoe and other parasitic plants are not considered 
epiphytes even though they may grow on other plants. Many bromeliads and 
orchids are epiphytes but so are plants in many other families including ferns 
and mosses. Spanish moss, a bromeliad, is a well known epiphyte. 


References


Bromeliad Society International

 

American Orchid Society



Epiphytes


What is an Epiphyte?


Photo of bromeliads growing as epiphytes. 


Stern, K.R. 1991. Introductory Plant Biology. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown.

Darwin, Charles. 1862. Fertilization of Orchids by Insects. London, Murray. 
(1979 reprint)