From the Latin – nidulus, little nest, describing how the inflorescence nestles in the leaf rosette and inflorescence bracts.
Stemless, medium size, funnel-form rosette. Leaves equalling to much exceeding the inflorescence; sheaths conspicuous; blades ligulate with spiny margins. Inflorescence compound. Flowers in flat fascicles and covered by large bracts, stalkless; sepals more or less united; petals naked, tubular united; blades spreading or erect and hooded; stamens included. Fruit a berry.
Offsets or seed.
Inflorescence in a 'tank' of leaf bases; flowers stalkless cf. Neoregelia.
About 30 species from SE Brazil.
Source: (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.