Portea
| Portea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flowering Portea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Bromeliaceae |
| Subfamily: | Bromelioideae |
| Genus: | Portea Brongn. ex K. Koch |
Portea is a genus of the botanical family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, and is native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil.
It is named for Dr. Marius Porte,[1] a 19th-century French naturalist who died in 1866 in Manilla while on a collection expedition for the National Museum of Natural History.[2]
Characteristics
Portea is a small group of plants. According to the Bromeliad Binomial it currently includes just nine species. The plants are natives of the eastern coast of Brazil where they tend to be medium to large plants. They thrive in strong light. The foliage of this genus is often quite attractive although heavily protected by sharp spines. The branches of the inflorescence are somewhat lengthy. This characteristic makes the bloom even more stunning. The plant produces a tall bloom of lavender flowers followed by dark purple berries. Although the leaves are frost sensitive, the plants themselves usually survive cold temperatures and produce blooms in the late spring.[3]
Species
- Portea alatisepala Philcox
- Portea filifera L.B. Smith
- Portea fosteriana L.B. Smith
- Portea grandiflora Philcox
- Portea kermesina K. Koch
- Portea nana Leme & H. Luther
- Portea orthopoda (Baker) Coffani-Nunes & Wanderley
- Portea petropolitana (Wawra) Mez
- var. noettigii (Wawra) L.B. Smith
- Portea silveirae Mez
Cultivars
- Portea 'Helga Tarver'
- Portea 'June'
Notes
- ↑ Bromeliad Genera Etymology
- ↑ Centre historique des Archives nationales: Missions et voyageurs du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (French)
- ↑ http://mybscf.org/files/folders/178/download.aspx