Bromeliad, << broh MEE lee ad, >> is the name for any member of a large family of tropical plants. Bromeliads grow mainly in the tropical forests of the Americas. Most bromeliads, including Spanish moss, are epiphytes (air plants). Epiphytes grow on other plants and take most of their moisture and food directly from the air or from decaying plant matter near their roots. Other bromeliads, such as pineapple plants, grow on the ground. Most bromeliads form tight clusters of long, sword-shaped leaves. Bromeliad epiphytes survive drought better than other epiphytes because they can hold a large amount of water in their leaf clusters. See also Epiphyte .
