The eye of the beholder

Bromeliads are strange things. Most bromeliads are epiphytic, that is they absorb nutrients through their leaves, by collecting water and other debris in their cups. They latch onto stones or branches and need no contact with earth. In the Caribbean a common bromeliad we call wild pine (pineapple is a bromeliad) lives in mahogany and other trees and provides a great nesting place for various bugs and cockroaches. Often the leaves can be quite colourful, depending on exposure to sunlight. They all flower, but some of the flowers are so small you'd never notice them.

Nature works in wonderful ways, and even the biggest skeptics among us can be surprised every now and then. A clump of bromeliads in the garden had grown neglected for over a year, covered by other plants. This type of bromeliad in particular has wide bright green leaves but nothing else special, apparently. The leaves though had been ravaged by slugs and snails, it was a sad sight. One day , with the rains arriving, I decided to clean them up in one of these 'I'm working in the garden today' days...

Within a week a flower was shooting out of one of the plants

This is the flower after about 4 days

A close up shows the florets pushing out of their sheathes. The sheathes are covered in some kind of soft white 'fur'...

After a couple more days the flower is pretty mature and the little purple tipped florets are now spreading out and unfolding.

Pretty much in full Bloom and quite a beautiful sight. Each stalk will produce its own little miniature yellow and purple flower

Here you can see how the sheathes have curled back like petals.