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Genus: Pitcairnia

Pitcairnia is a genus of the subfamily Pitcairnioideae. It was named for Dr. William Pitcairn, English physician and gardener (1711-1791). The genus Pitcairnia ranks as the second most prolific of the bromeliad family, after Tillandsia. They are most abundant in Colombia, Peru and Brazil, but can also be found in areas from Cuba and Mexico, south to Argentina. One species, Pitcairnia feliciana, is found in tropical West Africa and is the only member of the Bromeliaceae family not native to the Western Hemisphere (Americas). Almost all species are terrestrial or saxicolous and prefer moist areas, however, many are found growing epiphytically in trees.

Number of accepted species in this genus is 420 (source: species counts in the Encyclopaedia of Bromeliads).
Pitcairnia atrorubens var. pallidobracteata Photo by Bruce Dunstan


Links
  • Encyclopaedia of Bromeliads
  • The New Taxon List
  • Wikipedia
  • Google images