Flowers

Bromeliads are a varied group of organisms, adapted to a number of climates. Foliage takes different shapes, from needle-thin to broad and flat, symmetrical to irregular, spiky to soft.

The foliage, which usually grows in a rosette, is the most widely patterned and colored of any plant in the world. Leaf colors range from maroon, through shades of green, to gold.

Varieties may have leaves with red, yellow, white and cream variations. Others may be spotted with purple, red, or cream, while others have different colors on the tops and bottoms of the leaves.

The inflorescences produced by bromeliads are also regarded as considerably more diverse than any other plant family. Some flower spikes may reach 10 meters tall,
while others only measure 2–3 mm across. Upright stalks may be branched or simple with spikes retaining their color from two weeks up to 12 months, depending on species.
In some species, the flower remains unseen, growing deep in the base of the plants.

Root systems vary according to plant type. Terrestrial bromeliad species have complex root systems that gather water and nutrients,

while epiphytic bromeliads only grow hard, wiry roots to attach themselves to trees and rocks.

The west African species is the only bromeliad not endemic to the Americas,

and is thought to have reached Africa via long-distance dispersal about 12 million years ago

see photo :
http://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1416339/