Botanical Name: Aechmea fasciata
Family: Bromeliaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Genus: Aechmea
Subgenus: Aechmea subg. Platyaechmea
Species:A. fasciata
Common Names: Urn Plant, Aechmea, Silver Vase PlantUrn, Vase Plant
Habitat:Urn Plant is native to Brazil. This plant is probably the best known species in this genus, and it is often grown as a houseplant in temperate areas.
Description:
Grow in bright but filtered light as a house plant. Indoor perennial herb . The plant grows slowly, reaching 30–90 cm (12–35 in) in height, with a spread of up to 60 cm (24 in). It has elliptic–oval-shaped leaves 45–90 cm (18–35 in) long and arranged in a basal rosette pattern. They like to have moisture in the cup-like space of the whorl of leaves. Do not overwater in the winter and remove dead leaves as necessary to maintain a quality appearance. It does die after flowering but often produces pups that can be transplanted. If you would like to try to force the plant to flower place a cut apple near the plant and cover with a plastic bag for a few weeks. Keep the plant out of direct sunlight. The ethylene released from the apple should induce flowering.
In its native habitat, it will grow in the ground or in trees without taking any nourishment from the tree. This is a stemless plant that typically grows 1-3′ tall in a basal rosette of stiff, arching, broad, strap-shaped, elliptic-oval, silvery-green leaves which resemble an urn. Leaf margins have black spines. An urn plant shoot blooms only once and then dies. But the bloom is spectacular.
Uses:
It is air-feeder, collecting nourishment from water and decaying mater in the upturned cup of their leaves. Aechmea fasciata do not really use their roots other than for anchoring. Aechmea fasciata have adapted to their environment and are always arranged in a rosette, shaped to capture and hold the water.
Garden Uses:
Good flowering houseplant.
Known Hazards: Aechmea fasciata is listed in the FDA Poisonous Plant Database under the section for “Skin irritating substances in plants” and is known to cause contact dermititis, phytophoto dermatitis, and contact allergy.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aechmea_fasciata
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/aechmea/
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b647
