介绍凤梨科的文章不多，本文原文为BSI（bromeliad society international）上的介绍，觉得不错，便翻译下来供大家交流学习。转载请注明作者及出处。如有疑问欢迎探讨。

我的空气凤梨↓

http://s5/bmiddle/001O3LFPgy6Sv2Qhxtid4&690
我的积水凤梨↓
http://s2/bmiddle/001O3LFPgy6Sv2QFn5n21&690

原文链接：BSI | WHAT ARE BROMELIADS?

原文及译文：

WHAT ARE BROMELIADS?  什么是凤梨科植物？

  Bromeliads are members of a plant family known as Bromeliaceae (bro-meh-lee-AH-say-eye). The family contains over 3000 described species in approximately 56 genera. The most well known bromeliad is the pineapple. The family contains a wide range of plants including some very un-pineapple like members such as Spanish Moss (which is neither Spanish nor a moss). Other members resemble aloes or yuccas while still others look like green, leafy grasses.

    Bromeliads指凤梨科植物。这个科的植物包含大约56个属3000多个种。最有名的凤梨是菠萝。这个科包含了种类繁多的植物，包括一些与菠萝不相似的成员，如铁兰。其他成员像芦荟或丝兰，以及看起来绿色而多叶的草状植物。（译者：芦荟是凤梨科的？还是当时划分在凤梨下面？）

  In general they are inexpensive, easy to grow, require very little care, and reward the grower with brilliant, long lasting blooms and ornamental foliage. They come in a wide range of sizes from tiny miniatures to giants. They can be grown indoors in cooler climates and can also be used outdoors where temperatures stay above freezing.

Bromeliad History  凤梨的历史

  Bromeliads entered recorded history some 500 years ago when Columbus introduced the pineapple (Ananas comosus) to Spain upon return from his second voyage to the New World in 1493. On that voyage he found it being cultivated by the Carib Indians in the West Indies. Within 50 years this tropical fruit was being cultivated in India and other Old World countries.

  It took some time for additional bromeliads to enter cultivation. It wasn't until 1776 that another bromeliad (Guzmania lingulata) was brought to Europe. Aechmea fasciata followed in 1828 and Vriesea splendens in 1840.

    其他凤梨的人工引种又隔了一段时间。直到1776年，另一种凤梨（果子蔓，又名红星凤梨）被带到了欧洲。随后是蜻蜓凤梨属（Aechmea fasciata）在1828年，虎纹凤梨属（Vriesea splendens）在1828 1840年。

  Within the last hundred years, bromeliads have become more widely used as ornamental plants. Originally only found in royal botanical gardens or the private greenhouses of wealthy Europeans, their popularity has spread to the masses. Today bromeliads are more available to the enthusiast than ever before. New species are still being discovered and plant breeders are developing ever more stunning hybrids to choose from.

Uses for Bromeliads  凤梨的用途

  Although the pineapple is the only member of the family cultivated for food, several species including Caroa (Neoglaziovia variegata) are cultivated as a source of fiber. Pineapple stems are a source of the protein-digesting enzyme bromelain used as a meat tenderizer. Because fresh pineapple also contains bromelain, it cannot be used in gelatin molds since the enzyme breaks down the congealing proteins. Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) contains a tough, wiry core that was once used as a material for stuffing upholstery.

    虽然菠萝是凤梨科中唯一作为食物栽培的成员，但像Caroa（Neoglazioviavariegata）等一些品种，作为纤维的来源而种植。菠萝的茎是蛋白溶解酶（菠萝蛋白酶）的主要原料，用作肉类的嫩化剂。因为新鲜菠萝还含有菠萝蛋白酶，它不能在胶模具上使用，因为酶会分解凝结的蛋白质。铁兰（松萝）含有坚韧结实的结构，曾被当成一种室内家居装饰的材料。

Where they Grow  它们生长在哪里

  Bromeliads are a Neotropical family which means they grow virtualy exclusively in the New World tropics (and subtropics). Most come from South America with the greatest number of species found in Brazil. They range from Chile and Argentina in South America through Cental America and the Caribbean reaching their northern limit aroung Virginia in the southeastern United States. A single species (Pitcairnia feliciana) is found in western Africa. Bromeliads altitude range is from sea level to over 14,000 feet. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats from hot, dry deserts to moist rainforests to cool mountainous regions.

    凤梨科植物是一个新热带科，这意味着他们事实上只生长在新大陆（美洲）的热带（和亚热带）。大部分来自南美洲以巴西发现的物种数量最多。他们也分布在南美洲的智利和阿根廷，穿过中美洲和加勒比海，到达它们最北的区域位于美国东南部的弗吉尼亚州。有一个单独的品种（Pitcairnia feliciana）在非洲的西部被发现。凤梨的高度范围是从海平面到14,000英尺。他们可以在炎热干燥的沙漠、潮湿的雨林、凉冷的山区等各种环境被找到。（译者注：沙漠主要指沙漠凤梨，像积水凤梨几乎不可能在沙漠地区生长。可见凤梨科植物的内部差异还是比较大的。）

  They are found in a variety of growing situations: Terrestrial species are found growing in the ground (the way we expect most plants to grow). They may be found growing in bright sun along sandy beaches to the shady understory of a forest among the leaf litter and debris.Saxicolous species are found growing on rocks. They may grow on hard rocky outcrops where their roots may penetrate cracks and fissures to locate moisture or organic nutrients or sometimes they are found growing tenuously on sheer cliff faces. Epiphytic species are found growing on other plants, usually trees, shrubs or cactus but somtimes they can be found on telephone poles or even on the telephone lines themselves. This capability to take their nutrition and moisture from the atmosphere has earned these bromeliads the name "Air Plants".

How They Grow  它们如何生长

  All bromeliads are composed of a spiral arrangement of leaves sometimes called a "rosette". The number of degrees between successive leaves varies from species to species with a few having a 180 degree separation between leaves. This causes the plant to grow in a flattened configuration with its leaves lined up in a single plane. The bases of the leaves in the rosette may overlap tightly to form a water reservoir. This central cup also collects whatever leaf litter and insects happen to land in it. The more ancestral terrestrial bromeliads do not have this water storage capability and rely primarily on their roots for water and nutrient absorption. Tank bromeliads (as the water storing species are often called) rely less heavily on their roots for nourishment and are more often found as epiphytes. The roots of epiphytic species harden off after growing to form holdfasts as strong as wire that help attach the plant to its host. Even though bromeliads are commonly called parasitos in Spanish-speaking countries, these epiphytes do not take sustenance from their host but merely use it for support. In some species, the bases of the leaves form small chambers as they overlap and these protected spaces are often home to ants. In exchange for shelter, the ants' waste may provide the bromeliad with extra fertilizer.

    所有凤梨是由螺旋分布的叶片组成，有时也称“莲座状”。连续叶片之间的角度因品种而异，少数品种的叶间夹角达到180度。这使植物呈现扁平结构，叶片排列在同一平面上。叶子的基部在莲座紧紧重叠形成一个储水结构。叶心的杯体也聚集了落叶、昆虫等掉入的东西。越是原始的陆生凤梨，越不具备这样的储水能力，主要依靠他们的根获得水份和营养。积水凤梨（可储水的凤梨品种经常被这么称呼）的根系主要用于附生而不是获得养分。附生品种的根系在生长形成缠绕之后会变得跟电线一样强韧，帮助它们附着在宿主上。尽管凤梨科植物在西班牙语国家通常被称作寄生物，这些附生植物却不从他们的宿主那里获得食物而仅仅是用它来支持。在一些物种中，叶片在重叠时基部形成小的空室，这些起到庇护作用的空间常常被当作蚁巢。作为交换，蚂蚁的粪便可以提供凤梨以额外的肥料。

  All bromeliads share a common characteristic: tiny scales on their leaves called trichomes. These scales serve as a very efficient absorption system. In species found in desert regions where the air is hot and dry and the sun beats down relentlessly, these scales also help the plant to reduce water loss and shield the plants from the solar radiation. These plants are so covered with scales that they appear silvery-white and feel fuzzy. On many species (especially in more humid areas), the scales are smaller and less noticeable. Sometimes the scales can form patterns and banding on the leaves that add to the plant's beauty.

    所有的凤梨科植物都有一个共同的特点：叶子上有被称为毛状体的微小鳞屑。这些鳞屑充当一种非常有效的吸收系统。在沙漠地区，空气炎热干燥，太阳强烈的直射，这些鳞屑帮助植物减少水份损失及遮挡太阳辐射。这些植物都覆盖着鳞屑，使它们呈现出银白色和朦胧感。在许多物种（尤其是在比较潮湿的地区）中，鳞片较小，不太明显。有时鳞片可以形成图案和条纹，为植物增添美感。

  With few exceptions, the flower stalk is produced from the center of the rosette. The stalk (or scape as it is called), may be long with the flowers held far away from the plant (either erect or hanging pendantly) or the scape may be short with the flowers nestled in the rosette. The scape may produce a single flower or many individual flowers and may have colorful leaf-like appendages called scape bracts that serve to attract pollinators and delight bromeliad enthusiasts. With rare exceptions, bromeliads only flower a single time - once the plant stops producing leaves and produces its flower, it will not start making leaves again. It will, however, vegetatively produce new plantlets called "offsets" or "pups". These plants will feed off the "mother" plant until they are large enough to set roots of their own and survive as a separate plant. The mother may sometimes survive a generation or two before finally dying off. Pups are usually produced near the base of the plant - inside the sheath of a leaf. Sometimes, however, pups may be produced on long stolons or atop the inflorescence (flower spike) of the mother plant. The green, leafy top of a pineapple is in fact a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.

    除了少数例外，花梗从莲座中心产生。花梗(或称花茎)可能很长，花朵远离植物（竖立或悬垂），也可能花梗较短，花朵依偎在莲座附近。花梗可能生出一朵单一的花或许多单独的花朵，并可能有多彩的叶片状附属物称为花梗苞片，借以吸引授粉者，同时也使爱好者感到欣喜。除了极少数例外，凤梨只开一次花——一旦植物停止叶片生长而开出花朵，它不会重新开始长叶子。然而它会无性繁殖出新的小植株称为“侧芽”或“幼仔”。这些植株依靠 “母体”供养，直到它们足够大，能生出自己的根并独立生存。母体有时再生存一代或两代之后最终死去。幼仔通常生于植物的根部附近——在叶鞘内。然而，有时幼崽可能会生于长匍匐茎上或母株的花序（穗花）上。菠萝上绿色而多叶的部分，实际上是一个幼仔，可切除并种植形成新的植株。