Bromel Keris | Flaming Sword | Vriesea duvaliana

Falling into the family of Bromeliaceae, the genus name for the flowering plant is for Willem Hendrik de Vriese, Dutch botanist, physician (1806–1862).

In their original habitat, native to the tropical climate, they grow on shady and humid forest floors or attached to trees. This means bromeliads will thank you for providing areas that are warm, wet, and shady. In the wild, it is common for the plant as havens for insects and frogs – some even go through their life cycle in a bromeliad!

We are not very sure if this Flaming Sword is Vriesea duvaliana or Vriesea splendens, as bromeliad plants found in Indonesia are commonly hybrids. This is because most Vriesea are epiphytes and grow soil-less on trees. Commonly, since they have no roots, they take in nutrients through the center ‘tank’ made by a rosette of leaves.

Things you need to know

Botanical name

Vriesea sp.

Vriesea duvaliana

Origin

Mexico, Central America, South America and the West Indies

Nickname

Bromel Keris

Flaming Sword