Billbergia
Billbergia macrocalyx, inflorescence with red bracts and pale blue petals that curl up wilting.
The Billbergia are a genus of the subfamily Bromelioideae in the family Bromeliaceae ( Bromeliaceae ). In this genus there are about 60 species.
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 Notes and references
Description and ecology
Vegetative characteristics
The Billbergia species grow as perennial herbaceous plants and are hopper or tank bromeliads. They are mostly medium-sized species with small funnel diameters. Most species are epiphytes, some species grow both plants to rocks, as well as directly on the ground. In the leaf hoppers water accumulate. In many craters there are small areas containing several animal species and algae and aquatic plants. The rough leaves are always on the edge reinforced (as with all genres of Bromelioideae ), with a spiked tip. In some species and varieties the leaves are beautifully colored. Saugschuppen are in many species throughout the leaves, and often on the inflorescence.
Generative features
The flowers sit on many of the most respectable, long-lasting inflorescences ( inflorescences ). The inflorescences are often linked. At the inflorescences often sit bright colored bracts ( bracts ); it dominates the color red (mostly with a blue component ).
The hermaphrodite flowers are triple with double perianth. There are three sepals present. The three petals often have different shades of blue, there are also yellow, green and white. In the blue- flowered species of birds are the pollinators. An important feature which it is distinguished from other genera that their petals ( petals ) curl up when they fade. The single flowers bloom only a few hours and are much less capable of pollination. In most species are small scales at the base of the petals ( Ligulea ). The six stamens and the style often stand out from the flower. The ovary is inferior. A large part of the species blooms at night. The flowers formula is: to
The many-seeded berries are often highly colored when ripe; here is dominated by red to blue. The fruits are of animals (especially birds, rare monkeys and of Fledertieren ) eaten. The seeds are excreted undigested and pass with the feces on branches.
Dissemination
The areas of Billbergia species extending from southern Mexico to Bolivia and to northern Argentina. The development center, with the largest number of species, Brazil.
System
The Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) placed the genus in Billbergia Plantarum Brasiliensium ..., 3, 1821 page 30 with the type species is Billbergia speciosa on. The genus Billbergia is named after the Swedish botanist and zoologist Johan Gustaf Bill Berg ( 1772-1844 ).
There are over 60 Billbergia species and some varieties, here is the full list, according to Luther, 2008:
- Billbergia acreana H.Luther
- Billbergia alfonsi - joannis Reitz
- Billbergia amoena ( Loddiges ) Lindl.: Billbergia amoena ( Loddiges ) Lindl. var amoena
- Billbergia amoena var carnea E.Pereira
- Billbergia amoena var flavescens Reitz
- Billbergia amoena var minor ( Antoine & Beer) LBSmith
- Billbergia amoena var robertiana E.Pereira & Leme
- Billbergia amoena var stolonifera E.Pereira & Moutinho
- Billbergia amoena var stolonifera f viridiflora
- Billbergia amoena var viridis L.B.Smith
- Billbergia amoena format viridiflora E.Pereira & Moutinho
- Billbergia brachysiphon LBSmith var brachysiphon
- Billbergia brachysiphon var breviflora H.Luther
- Billbergia brachysiphon var paraensis L.B.Smith
- Billbergia distachia ( Vellozo ) Mez var distachia
- Billbergia distachia var concolor Reitz
- Billbergia distachia maculata var Reitz
- Billbergia distachia var Straussiana ( Witt Mack ) LBSmith
- Billbergia euphemiae E.Morren var euphemiae
- Billbergia euphemiae var nudiflora L.B.Smith
- Billbergia euphemiae var purpurea M.B.Foster
- Billbergia euphemiae var saundersioides LBSmith
- Billbergia horrida horrida var rule
- Billbergia horrida var tigrina hortus ex Baker
- Billbergia iridifolia ( Nees & Martius ) Lindl. var iridifolia
- Billbergia iridifolia var concolor L.B.Smith
- Billbergia laxiflora L.B.Smith
- Billbergia leptopoda L.B.Smith
- Billbergia lietzei E.Morren
- Billbergia lymanii E.Pereira & Leme: Billbergia lymanii E.Pereira & Leme var lymanii
- Billbergia lymanii var angustifolia E.Pereira & Leme
- Billbergia magnifica Mez var magnifica
- Billbergia magnifica var acutisepala Hassler
- Billbergia minarum L.B.Smith var minarum
- Billbergia minarum var viridiflora E.Pereira & Leme
- Billbergia nutans nutans var H.Wendland ex rule
- Billbergia nutans var schimperiana ( Witt Mack ) Baker
- Billbergia nutans var striata Reitz
- Billbergia pyramidalis ( Sims ) Lindl. var pyramidalis
- Billbergia pyramidalis var concolor L.B.Smith
- Billbergia pyramidalis var lutea Leme & W.Weber
- Billbergia pyramidalis var striata M.B.Foster
- Billbergia tweedieana Baker var tweedieana
- Billbergia tweedieana var latisepala L.B.Smith
Ornamental plant
Due to their size and ease of care you will find several styles and varieties and in private collections. But in some tropical parks and gardens and also in all the botanical gardens you will find this relatively undemanding and decorative plants. The best-known species of this genus is Billbergia nutans, which is also called oat room or rooms hemp and was formerly found in Central Europe in many homes and shop windows. Billbergien have only a very short flowering period, but their Kindeln bloom almost every year.
More images
The main features of the genus Billbergia shown with pictures of hybrids: Billbergia x windii = Billbergia nutans H.Wendl. ex modulating × Billbergia decora Poepp. & Endl. :
Habit
Hanging inflorescence.
Reddish sepals and bluish petals.
The petals curl up on during the course of flower development.
The petals curl up on during the course of flower development.
The striking twisted stamp.
The six stamens
Verblühender inflorescence, the flowers are transient.
Under constant ovary.
Under constant ovary.