Bromeliad Stock Photo

Evolutionarily, studies point to the emergence of this plant genus in the Cretaceous period. Its adaptive capacity combined with the production of attractants for dispersing animals (such as nectar and colorful flowers) resulted in a great dispersion success, allowing the radiation of several species. The later emergence of the Andes and the formation of the Amazon rainforest were essential events for the establishment of bromeliads as one of the best adapted American plants. Some scientists postulate that the epiphytic habit was important for the evolutionary success of these plants and that it occurred independently in several genera of bromeliads subjected to different climatic and geological conditions.