Aechmea

Aechmea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae (subfamily Bromelioideae). The name comes from the Greek aichme, meaning "spear". Suggested pronunciations include and . Aechmea comprises eight subgenera and around 250 species distributed from Mexico through South America and the Caribbean. Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes.

Subgenera

Subgenera include:

• Aechmea subg. Aechmea Baker
• Aechmea subg. Chevaliera (Gaudichaud ex Beer) Baker
• Aechmea subg. Lamprococcus (Beer) Baker
• Aechmea subg. Macrochordion (De Vriese) Baker
• Aechmea subg. Ortgiesia (Regel) Mez
• Aechmea subg. Platyaechmea (Baker) Baker
• Aechmea subg. Podaechmea Mez
• Aechmea subg. Pothuava (Baker) Baker
• Aechmea subg. Streptocalyx ined.

Species

, Plants of the World Online listed the following species:

Transferred

• Aechmea bicolor → Wittmackia bicolor
• Aechmea burle-marxii → Wittmackia burle-marxii
• Aechmea depressa → Karawata depressa
• Aechmea gustavoi → Karawata gustavoi
• Aechmea hostilis → Karawata hostilis <small>(E.Pereira) J.R.Maciel & G.M.Sousa</small>
• Aechmea involucrata → Ronnbergia involucrata
• Aechmea multiflora → Karawata multiflora
• Aechmea nigribracteata → Karawata nigribracteata
• Aechmea prasinata → Karawata prasinata
• Aechmea saxicola → Karawata saxicola
• Aechmea tonduzii → Ronnbergia tonduzii
• Aechmea turbinocalyx → Wittmackia turbinocalyx
• Aechmea veitchii → Ronnbergia veitchii

Cultivars

Cultivars include:

• Aechmea 'Blue Tango'
• Aechmea 'Burgundy'
• Aechmea 'Fire'
• Aechmea 'Gympie Gold'
• Aechmea 'Jeanie'
• Aechmea 'Malva'

References