Total: 5
A large, variable, tank-forming species lacking discernible stems. Leaves are arranged in a rosette, leathery, grey-green with a waxy coating, 30 to 80 cm in length, forming basal cups that hold water and detritus. The inflorescence is a panicle of spikes shorter than the leaves, with bright red bracts and violet to white flowers. A highly variable species with multiple recognized varieties. In the southeastern United States (Florida), populations are threatened by the invasive Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona).
A terrestrial bromeliad originally described as Cryptanthus fernseeoides. The specific epithet refers to its resemblance to species of the genus Fernseea. Transferred to Rokautskyia in 2017 based on phylogenetic revisions of the Cryptanthoid complex. Forms rosettes of leaves and occurs in the humid Atlantic Forest understory. Endemic to eastern Brazil.
Ranges across the Greater Antilles, Mexico and Central America, growing as an epiphyte in forest at elevations of 25 to 1,000 m.
A medium-sized stemless species forming a dense, rounded rosette of numerous fine, thread-like leaves approximately 7 cm in length. The species name means "thread-leaved." Leaf sheaths are grape-violet to chestnut-colored with small, dispersed trichomes. The inflorescence is bipinnate with many slender spikes bearing small flowers with violet petals. Grows as an epiphyte in seasonally dry tropical forests.
Known as the Twisted Air Plant, it has thick, stiff leaves that spiral around the stem. It is unique for its viviparous reproduction, producing offsets on the inflorescence.