Species of flowering plant
"Flaming torch" redirects here. For the light source, see
torch
. For Indian social movement, see
Meira Paibi
.
Flaming torch
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom:
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Plantae
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Clade
:
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Tracheophytes
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Clade
:
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Angiosperms
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Clade
:
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Monocots
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Clade
:
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Commelinids
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Order:
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Poales
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Family:
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Bromeliaceae
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Genus:
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Billbergia
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Subgenus:
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Billbergia
subg.
Billbergia
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Species:
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B. pyramidalis
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Binomial name
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Billbergia pyramidalis
(Sims) Lindl.
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Synonyms
[1]
|
- Bromelia pyramidalis
Sims
- Billbergia thyrsoidea
Mart. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
- Tillandsia farinosa
Schult. & Schult.f.
- Billbergia atrorosea
Drapiez
- Billbergia loddigesii
Steud.
- Pitcairnia fastuosa
C.Morren
- Billbergia splendida
Lem.
- Jonghea splendida
Lem.
- Billbergia croyana
De Jonghe ex Lem.
- Billbergia miniatorosea
Lem.
- Billbergia fastuosa
(C.Morren) Beer
- Billbergia longifolia
K.Koch & C.D.Bouche
- Billbergia paxtonii
Beer
- Billbergia punicea
Beer
- Billbergia lemoinei
Andre
- Billbergia andegavensis
Andre
- Billbergia schultesiana
Baker
- Billbergia setosa
Baker
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Billbergia pyramidalis
, commonly known as the
flaming torch
and
foolproof plant
, is a
species
of
bromeliad
that is native to northern
South America
and parts of the
Caribbean
.
[2]
It was first described by
John Sims
, and got its current name by
John Lindley
.
[3]
Description
[
edit
]
A
perennial
, clump-forming stemless bromeliad plant, it is adaptable, growing well as a terrestrial or
epiphytic
plant. When on the ground, plants quickly create large clumps, and when planted at the base of a tree, they will slowly climb the trunk. The strap-like, green-coloured, overlaying, leathery leaves are arranged in jar-shaped basal
rosettes
, with a central cup that keeps water, organic debris and insects, thus providing extra nutrients to be absorbed by the plant.
[4]
The thick, red or pink brush-shaped flowers on an individual plant last less than one month, but nearly all plants will come into bloom at the same time in the late summer or early autumn. In some latitudes, they bloom more frequently. The scarlet-coloured, erect, pyramidal flowers are laid in thistle-like
inflorescences
, which are made up of red, tube-shaped flowers with violet or yellow highlights.
[5]
Cultivation
[
edit
]
Requiring minimal care, the plant is used as
groundcover
in partial shade and in a protected position. It is drought and frost sensitive. Being epiphytic, these plants can also be grown in the branching of trees or on
tree ferns
. A
slow-release fertiliser
may be applied on the base of the plants in spring. Propagation is done by
dividing
off the immature parts of the plants in spring or autumn. This plant tolerates between
USDA zones
10a to 12a and may not withstand temperatures below ?1.1 °C.
[6]
Range
[
edit
]
The species is found in moist
humus
rich soils or in
composted
leaf
mould
on the ground in humid areas, and as well as on rocks under
shady forest trees
, in countries such as,
Cuba
,
Venezuela
,
Brazil
,
French Guiana
, the
Lesser Antilles
and
Cuba
. It is reportedly naturalised in
Puerto Rico
, the
Dominican Republic
and on the Island of
Mauritius
in the
Indian Ocean
.
[1]
[7]
Cultivars
[
edit
]
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. bicolor
Lindl.
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. concolor
L.B.Sm.
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. croyana
E.Morren
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. farinosa
E.Morren
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. lutea
Leme & W. Weber
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. pyramidalis
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. striata
M.B.Foster
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. vernicosa
E.Pereira
- Billbergia pyramidalis
var
. zonata
(from Vriese) E. Morren
Gallery
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
- Guzmania
, a genus of the same family with similar-looking plants
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"
Billbergia pyramidalis
(Sims) Lindl"
.
Plants of the World Online
. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024
. Retrieved
22 March
2024
.
- ^
Sant'Ana Melhem, T., das Gracas Lapa Wanderley, M., Ehlin Martins, S., Jung-Mendacolli, S.L., Shepherd, G.J. & Kirizawa, M. (eds.) (2007). Flora Fanerogamica do Estado de Sao Paulo 5: 1?476. Instituto de Botanica, Sao Paulo.
- ^
da Costa, A.F. & Wendt, T. (2007). Bromeliaceae na regiao de Macae de Cima, Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Rodriguesia; Revista do Instituto de Biologia Vegetal, Jardim Botanico e Estacao Biologica do Itatiaya 58: 905?939.
- ^
Acevedo-Rodriguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1?1192.
- ^
Martinelli, G., Magalhaes Vieira, C., Gonzalez, M., Leitman, P., Piratininga, A. Ferreira da Costa, A. & Campostrini Forzza, R. (2008). Bromeliaceae da Mata Atlantica Brasileira: lista de especies, distribuicao e conservacao. Rodriguesia; Revista do Instituto de Biologia Vegetal, Jardim Botanico e Estacao Biologica do Itatiaya 59: 209?258.
- ^
Billbergia pyramidalis
- ^
Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
External links
[
edit
]
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Billbergia pyramidalis
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Bromelia pyramidalis
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