Aechmea chantinii

Native to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and northern Brazil, this plant is an evergreen perennial bromeliad that grows on trees in tropical forests. Its stiff, leathery leaves form a vase-shaped rosette, with small spines along the edges and silvery bands or mottling. The central cup stores rainwater, helping the plant survive dry periods. A branched flower stalk carries small tubular flowers and conspicuous red, orange or pink bracts, which are modified leaves. Each rosette flowers once, then gradually dies after producing new shoots at its base. Photographed in Florida.