Billbergia Thunb.

Named after the Swedish botanist J.G. Billberg (1772–1884).

Stemless epiphytes. Leaves broadly linear; forming funnel-shaped or tubular rosettes, often with cross-bands or spotting, spiny or toothed margins. Inflorescence usually a pendent raceme with large brightly coloured bracts, mostly red or pink. Flowers showy, sepals often densely white mealy, petals often rolled back to the base in a spiral manner; stamens and style protruding. Fruit a many-seeded berry.

Many are hardy and flower easily. Billbergia nutans is the most widely cultivated as it will tolerate a wide range of growing conditions as a garden plant.

Seed or offsets.

About 62 species from tropical America, mostly eastern Brazil.

Heavily cross-banded or spotted, spiny-margined leaves forming a funnel; pendent inflorescences with large, bright pink or red bracts.

Source: Christensen, T.; Butcher, D. (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Poales
family       Bromeliaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Billbergia alfonsi-joannis Reitz
species         Billbergia amoena (Lodd.) Lindl.
species         Billbergia brasiliensis L.B.Sm.
species         Billbergia distachia (Vell.) Mez
species         Billbergia horrida Regel
species         Billbergia lietzei Morren
species         Billbergia macrocalyx Hook.
species         Billbergia nutans H.Wendl.
species         Billbergia pyramidalis (Sims) Lindl.
species         Billbergia rosea Beer
species         Billbergia sanderiana Morren
species         Billbergia saundersii C.Koch
species         Billbergia vittata Brongn.
species         Billbergia zebrina (Herb.) Lindl.