1

Smooth-leaved Bromeliaceae of BELIZE (excluding Tillandsia)

Bruce K. Holst ,1 David Amaya ,2 Ella Baron ,2 Marvin Paredes ,2 Elma Kay 3
1
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 2 Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Botanical Garden, 3University of Belize
© Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (bholst@selby.org), Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Botanical Garden (ellabaron2014@gmail.com).
Photos by Cathie Aime (CA), Ella Baron (EB), Wade Collier (WC), Bruce Holst (BH), Elma Kay (EK), Jan Meerman (JM), Marvin Paredes (MP), Phil Nelson (PN) Support from the Marie Selby
Botanical Gardens, Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, Environmental Resource Institute - University of Belize
[fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org] [1004] version 1 5/2018

Of the approx. 70 species of Bromeliaceae in Belize, the bulk belong to genera with smooth leaf margins known as the
subfamily Tillandsioideae, or the “tillandsioids.” A previously published guide (Field Guide 964) presented the nearly
30 species of the genus Tillandsia. This guide presents the remaining genera with 23 species: Catopsis (10 spp.),
Guzmania (3), Lemeltonia (1), Pseudalcantarea (1), Racinaea (1), Vriesea (1), and Werauhia (5), all epiphytic. It
is not easy at times to distinguish Tillandsia from the genera. In general, Tillandsia species are heavily lepidote
(covered with trichomes, or scales) and frequently have distichous (2-ranked) inflorescence branches. In contrast,
these other genera tend to be glabrous (lacking trichomes) and have polystichous (many-ranked) inflorescence
branches. The most commonly observed genera are Catopsis, Vriesea, and Werauhia; Guzmania and Lemeltonia
are less common, and Pseudalcantarea and Racinaea have only been collected once each in Belize, deep in the Maya
Mountains.
As in Tillandsia, seeds in this group have feathery appendages known as comas, and are dispersed by wind.
Pollinators vary, with Guzmania being hummingbird- pollinated, Catopsis and Lemeltonia insect-pollinated, and
the rest likely by bats. All of these species are predominantly epiphytic, with a few being able to grow on rock
outcrops.
District Abbreviations: Belize (B), Cayo (Ca), Corozal (Co), Orange Walk (OW), Stann Creek (SC), Toledo (T).
Identification
Elevations are for Belize only. Photos included Guide
not taken of Belizean plants are identified in the text.
Group 1. Inflorescence brightly colored, at least in part, with red, orange, or yellow bracts (4 species)
Groups 2–4. Inflorescence with mostly green bracts (see page 2)

Guzmania lingulata
Humid forests in
southern Belize, B, Ca,
SC, T; 15–850 m elev.
Distinguished by the
short inflorescence with
brightly colored,
spreading bracts and
white-tipped petals.
Plants form colonies of
multiple individuals, and
tend to grow lower in the
forest, below the crown. When in flower, often provides a Leaves soft, light green and Inflorescence bracts can be pink, Flowers have waxy petals that do not
bright spot of color in the forest (EB) spreading, forming a well-shaped yellow, orange or red, the inner ones spread open at maturity, and are
globose rosette (EB) are white-tipped (BH, EB, EB) pollinated by hummingbirds (EB)

Guzmania
nicaraguensis
Restricted to humid, high
elevation forests of the
Maya Mountains, Ca,
SC, T, 700–1100 m.
The orange-red, erect
bracts, unbranched and
short inflorescence, and
yellow flowers are
distinct.
Along with other
guzmanias, the leaves are Inflorescence unbranched, narrowly Inflorescence spreading to nodding Petals bright yellow, spreading at their tips, the anthers yellow. As with many
club-shaped and usually shorter than (pictured here a plant from Mexico colorful guzmanias, this species is likely hummingbird-pollinated (plant from
green and smooth. the leaves (EK) in cultivation at Selby Gardens; (PN) Costa Rica in cultivation at Selby Gardens; PN)
 Smooth-leaved Bromeliaceae of BELIZE (excluding Tillandsia) 2
Guzmania
scherzeriana
Known from humid
forests in SC, T; 15–225
m elev.
A distinctive species in
flower with a large,
branched, and brightly
colored inflorescence,
and leaves reddish
below.
Likely to be found at
higher elevations in the Plant just prior to full bloom, in Leaves either generally reddish or Inflorescence branched at maturity, Flowers at maturity tubular, with the
future. cultivation at Selby Gardens (PN) with distinctive lines on the lower with all-red bracts in the flower yellow petals slightly exceeding the
surface (EB) cluster, and greenish flowers (PN) similarly colored sepals (PN)

Vriesea heliconioides
Known from humid
forests in southern
Belize, in Ca, OW, SC,
T; 80–700 m elev.
Easily distinguished by
the unbranched
inflorescence, broadly
spreading, colored
bracts, and white
flowers.

Plants are relatively small and found Floral bracts large and spread. They Inflorescence unbranched, with Petals bright white, with their tips
in the understory, in similar habitats can be all green to all red; flowers bracts either in one plane or in spreading (EB)
as Guzmania lingulata (EB) appear one at a time (EB) whorls as pictured here (WC)

Group 2. Inflorescence simple (unbranched), the bracts mostly green (5 species)

Groups 3, 4. Inflorescence compound (branched), the bracts mostly green (see page 3)

Catopsis nutans
Known commonly from
citrus orchards in Ca and
SC; 80–550 m elev.
In flower, easily
distinguished by the
orange flower petals that
spread open at night.
Leaves lightly white-
waxy below.
A diminutive plant, wth
simple inflorescences,
rarely with compound The inflorescence is pendent, with a Plants are relatively small and few- Leaves are few per rosette, smooth, Flowers distinctly light orange and
inflorescences in Belize. long scape that has few bracts (MP) flowered (EB) semisucculent, and brittle (MP) the petals are spreading (EB)

Lemeltonia
monadelpha
Known from central to
southern Belize in B, Ca,
SC, T; 15–750 m elev.
Distinguished by the
ladder-like inflorescence,
white flowers with
spreading petals, and
soft, light green
spreading leaves.
Known in most literature
as Tillandsia Leaves slender, soft, and light green, The plant is equally at home on the Inflorescence simple, floral bracts and Broadly spreading fruiting capsules
monadelpha or can also be bronze-colored in ground in leaf litter, as growing as an sepals are green; the petals are white (MP) are arranged ladder-like (MP)
bright light (EB) epiphyte (BH)
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 Smooth-leaved Bromeliaceae of BELIZE (excluding Tillandsia) 3
Werauhia
gladioliflora
Common, large epiphyte
known from broadleaf
evergreen moist forests
in B, Ca, OW, T; 5–215
(–570) m elev.
Distinct, all-green plant
with sturdy, erect
inflorescences and bat-
pollinated flowers that
open at night, and only
grow from one side of The rosette is broadly spreading and Leaves abruptly narrowed at the tip Resembling beetles marching in Petals green to bronzy, spreading;
the inflorescence greatly exceeds the and with fine tessellation (faint to rows, the fruits are dark brown and usually opening one at a time at night
the inflorescence. leaves in length (BH) distinct horizontal markings) ( EB) shiny, and the bracts spreading (EB) and closing in the morning (EB)

Werauhia
noctiflorens
Rare, found only on the
high ridges of the Maya
Mountains, Ca, SC, T;
700–1000 m elev.
Similar to above, but
with a narrow
inflorescence, bracts less
densely arranged.
Only recently discovered
and described for science
(2007) Leaf width can vary from narrow Plant with developing inflorescence Young flower with bronzy petals; The flowers turn away from the
(above) to broadly strap-shaped; and broad leaves (BH) note rachis is visible, compared to rachis at maturity; note anthers at
inflorescence erect or arching (BH) not visible in above right (BH) upper part of flower (JM)

Werauhia vittata
Another rare epiphyte
known only from high
Maya Mountain ridges in
SC and T; 600–900 m
elev.
Easily distinguished by
the colored banding on
the leaves, and relatively
few flowers on the erect
inflorescence.
Few photos exist for the
species throughout its A medium-sized plant with a simple, The strong lateral leaf banding, Leaves broadly strap-shaped, Inflorescence erect, unbranched, with
range. erect inflorescence with rather few especially noticeable below, helps to lustrous, and abruptly narrowed at few, widely spaced flowers; not
flowers (MP) distinguish this species (MP) the apex to a fine point (MP) pictured, but petals are green (MP)

Group 3. Leaves narrowing along their length to a point; inflorescence branched, the bracts mostly green (2 species)
Group 4. Leaves broad and with margins parallel along most of their length (“strap-shaped”); inflorescence branched, the bracts mostly green
Catopsis floribunda
An uncommon species in
Belize, known only from
Mt. Pine Ridge in Ca;
450–750 m elev.
Distinguished by the
broadly paniculate
inflorescence well
exceeding the leaves, and
the tough, narrowly
triangular, grayish
leaves.
Leaf sheaths broad compared to the Plant silhouettes in the Mountain Inflorescence branching several Flowers small, the white petals
arching, spreading blades; overall Pine Ridge; young plants are vase- times, with greenish to yellowish scarcely exceeding the yellow-green
color yellow-green (BH) shaped, and spread out when bracts (EB) sepals; anthers included within the
flowering (BH) petals (EB)
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 Smooth-leaved Bromeliaceae of BELIZE (excluding Tillandsia) 4
Catopsis juncifolia
Relatively rare in Belize,
knwown from the
Mountain Pine Ridge in
CA; 450–500 m elev.
Plants small and with
narrow leaves and
delicate inflorescence.
Photos here of a plant
from Costa Rica
cultivated at Selby
Gardens.
Plants small, with inflorescence greatly exceeding the leaf length; leaves As with all species in Catopsis, the Inflorescence all-green except for
narrow and soft (WC) capsules are broad and short, and whitish petals (not seen here) (PN)
contain seeds with a coma (PN)

Catopsis sessiliflora
Common in citrus
orchards, though rare in
natural forests, CA, SC,
T; 0–680 m elev.
Similar to C. nutans, but
has branched
inflorescences (versus
simple) and white petals
(versus orange)
Male and female flowers
are found on different
plants (found on same Plants have relatively few, broad, Inflorescence varies from compound Plant in bud; leaves glossy above, View of male flower with anthers
plant in C. nutans). triangular leaves tapering to a point, (above) to simple, depending on with powdery coating on the lower releasing pollen (MP)
and pendent inflorescences (MP) plant size at flowering (MP) surface toward the base (EB)

Group 4. Leaves broad and with margins parallel along most of their length (“strap-shaped”); inflorescence branched, the bracts
mostly green (6 species)

Catopsis berteroniana
Widespread epiphyte in
Belize in many habitats
from B, Ca, Co, SC, T;
10–580 m elev.
Distinguished by its vase
-shape, heavy powdery
coating at leaf base, and
erect inflorescence.
Plant shape/color
adapted to attract, and
trap small animals to
supplement nutrition Notable for its light green leaves, Closeup of leaf base within, also Inflorescences erect, typically Flowers similar to C. sessiliflora,
vase shape, and heavy waxy with heavy waxy bloom (EB) branched but can also be simple; but the petals are smaller (EB)
covering on leaf bases (BH) primary bracts small (EB)

Catopsis hahnii
A rare, high-elevation
species, known from
Maya Mountain and
Mountain Pine Ridges in
CA and T; 760–1000 m
elev.
The most “powdery” of
the Catopsis spp., with
whitish, waxy powder
found on many parts of
the leaves and
inflorescence. Plants mostly solitary, usually Green, shade form of the species, Primary bracts are often also coated Petals yellow-white, barely
producing a single offset; leaves with pronounced waxy coating; note with white wax, and lateral branches exceeding the sepals in length (PN)
bronzy in sun, greenish in shade (JM) leaves inrolled at tip (BH) are short (BH)
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 Smooth-leaved Bromeliaceae of BELIZE (excluding Tillandsia) 5
Catopsis morreniana
Common in Belize in
Ca, OW, SC, T; 80–680
m elev.
Distinguished by the
soft, spreading, strap-
shaped leaves, powdery
coating, prominent scape
bracts, and erect, branch-
ed inflorescence.
Equally at home growing
on trees as on rocks in
well lit and ventilated Plants are rather small with soft, Leaves with a waxy, powdery Inflorescence erect, with ascending Petals scarcely exceeding the sepals,
areas, such as exposed pliable, strap-shaped leaves, and coating especially notable on the branches; male and female flowers bright white (WC)
prominent scape bracts (MP) lower surfaces (WC) on different plants (WC)
limestone walls.
Catopsis nitida
A rare bromeliad in
Belize, only known from
a single collection from
the Maya Mountain
Divide in Ca (border
with T); 1000 m elev.
Distinctive because of
the long tubular growth
form and smooth,
lustrous, strap-shaped
leaves.
Catopsis nitida (top); note tubular First collected in Belize in 2007 during an expedition to Doyle’s Delight, The inflorescence is poorly known in
form of rosette (an inflorescence of Maya Mountains, the highest point in Belize (BH) the photographic record; fairly deli-
C. hahnii is in the photo, below;(CA) cate compared to other species (BH)

Pseudalcantarea
viridiflora
A rare species
documented only once in
Belize, in T; 825 m elev.
Distinguished by the
large size (to 1.8 m tall)
in flower, large greenish
flowers, and soft leaves.
Photos shown here are
from a plant from
Veracruz, Mexico, in
cultivation at Selby Foliage is all green, the petals and The only known documentation of the species in Belize was made at a remote The calyx and stigma are dark green,
Gardens. stamens persist after flowering (PN) camp during the British Honduras-Guatemala Border Survey of 1934, by and petals, stamens, and style light
Australian collector William A. Schipp (PN) green (PN)

Werauhia
hygrometrica
Another rare bromeliad
in Belize, known from a
single collection along
the Ca-T border on the
Maya Mountain Divide;
1000 m elev.
Distinguished by the
long scape, spreading
green bracts, and
horizontally lined leaves
and reddish leaf sheath. All parts of plant are green except for The curious horizontal banding is Inflorescence branched, though the Flowers two per branch, white (not
lower portion of leaves and whitish distinct; the leaves are shiny and short branches are hidden among the seen here); a clear gelatinous exudate
flowers (BH) medium green (BH) reflexed primary bracts (BH) is produced among the bracts (BH)

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 Smooth-leaved Bromeliaceae of BELIZE (excluding Tillandsia) 6
Werauhia werckleana
Bromeliad species
diversity reaches its peak
at high elevations of the
Maya Mountains; this
species is known from a
handful of collections in
Ca and T; 900–1000 m
elev.
The large plant size, tall,
few-branched
inflorescence, and green
flowers that open at night Inflorescence greatly exceeding the Broad strap-shaped leaves can become colorful in direct sunlight; the plants A plant with an old inflorescence,
are distinct. leaves, few-branched; flowers open reach more than 1 m across and are similar in size to Androlepis skinneri, but and all-green leaves (BH)
on one side of the spikes (origin lack leaf spines (JM)
unknown; Selby BG archives)

Group 5. Poorly known species; these three species would belong to Groups 3 or 4 ; they all have branched inflorescences and
mostly green bracts. Images of dried, pressed plants/illustrations courtesy of the Nat. Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian
Institution.
Catopsis paniculata (left)
One specimen known from “Little Pine Ridge,” Ca; elev.
unknown.
Similar to C. hahnii but inflorescence branches more elongate.

Catopsis wawranea (center)

One specimen known from “Chalillo Crossing,” Ca.; elev.
unknown.
Distinct from other species of Catopsis with long, narrow leaf
sheaths and floral bracts with marked venation.

Racinaea rothschuhiana (right) Catopsis paniculata. Inflorescence Catopsis wawranea. Racinaea rothschuhiana.
with prominent primary bracts and Inflorescence short, floral bracts Inflorescence slender, lateral
Two specimens known from T; approx. 700–750 m elev. slender branches (Source: http:// prominently veined; leaf sheaths
elongate. (Source: http://
branches short, flowers crowded.
[Source: Fl. Neotropica
plants.jstor.org/stable/pdf/10.5555/
Genus most similar to Catopsis, but lacking waxy coating, and al.ap.specimen.us00091326) plants.jstor.org/stable/ (Tillandsioideae) Bromel. 14(2):
has sepals that are not similar in size. pdf/10.5555/ 1977. Fig. 333 Smith, Lyman B.
al.ap.specimen.ma606719) and Downs, Robert J. Collection:
Schipp S-813. 1930]

Illustrated Glossary
Floral bract: modified leaf subtending a flower, which can be longer than, and obscure the calyx from view.
Flower (H): consisting of the sepals (together called calyx), the petals (together called corolla) the ,
androecium (the male part of the flower, or stamen, consisting of the filament and the anther), and the
gynoecium (the female part of the flower, or pistil, consisting of the ovary, style, and stigma).
Flower cluster (B): the portion of the inflorescence consisting of the flowering region of the inflorescence,
including the associated primary and floral bracts, the axes bearing flowers, and the flowers themselves.
Habit: General shape and growth form of a plant.
Inflorescence (A): the flowering portion of the plant, which consists of the scape and flower cluster.
Inflorescence type: bromeliad inflorescences are simple (unbranched; see left-side of adjacent illustration, or
Lemeltonia monadelpha) or compound (branched; see right-side of adjacent llustration, or Catopsis
floribunda, below). When compound, the branches can be short (e.g., C. hahnii), or elongate and spreading
(e.g., C. sessiliflora).
Leaf: The vegetative portion of the plant, including the broad basal leaf sheath (C) and the usually narrower
blade, or lamina (D).
Primary bract (G): the modified leaf at the base of an inflorescence branch; it can be colorful (e.g.,
Guzmania lingulata), or small and green, and inconspicuous (e.g., Catopsis juncifolia)
Scale (see “Trichome” below).
Scape (E): the stalk that connects the vegetative portion of the plant to the flower cluster; the scape may be
short and hidden among the leaves and bracts (e.g., Guzmania lingulata), or elongate and evident (e.g.,
Werauhia vittata). Note, the term “peduncle” is used for the same structure in many other plant families.
Scape bract (F): modified leaf borne along the nodes of the scape that can be from scale-like to leaf-like .
Trichome: minute structures analogous to plant “hairs” and often called scales, that cover the leaves of many
bromeliads (seen as a gray cover on many tillandsias). Trichomes in bromeliads are often scale-like and
have an elegant “mosaic-window” appearance. They help to facilitate the movement of water and nutrients
into the plant, as well as to help regulate water loss.
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