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Queens Tears

Bromeliad Billbergia

Description:

Queen's tears grows leathery, strap shaped arching leaves from a tight rosette. The leaves form a natural vase or funnel at the center. In the wild, this vase catches rainwater and droppings of whatever blows or creeps by. When Queen's tears blooms, a spike emerges from the center of the rosette. It gets longer, bends earthward, and blossoms into the complex and colorful flower you see above. The link to royalty may be the rich pink and purple on the magnificent blooms. The tears are drops of nectar that form on the flowers. Or just maybe it's the "weeping" form (like weeping cherry) of the flower spike itself that made someone think of tears.

Habitat:

Our garden, Palos Grandes, Altamira, Caracas, Venezuela. Near the Cerro del Avila mountain range. 1000m elevation.

Notes:

Not really sure about what Bromeliad Billbergia this is....is it the Arriba or the Milagro, the Borracho or is it the Billbergia nutans. I think it is the Nutans but I am not completely sure. If anyone else knows please enlighten me.

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6 Comments

Muckpuk
Muckpuk 7 years ago

Thanks BonnieLewis. I agree it is a gorgeous flower. Never knew I would love the flowers of such a boring plant. Always grew up with them but never saw the miracle of their flowers.

BonnieLewis
BonnieLewis 7 years ago

Wow oh Wow!!! Gorgeous!

Muckpuk
Muckpuk 7 years ago

Thank you armadeus.4 and Polilla!

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 7 years ago

Congratulations Muckpuk!!!

Muckpuk
Muckpuk 7 years ago

Thank you! AshleyT and others!!!!
I can't believe it!
What a gorgeous flower this Bromeliad produces.

AshleyT
AshleyT 7 years ago

Congrats Muckpuk, this is our Spotting of the Day!

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Muckpuk
Spotted by
Muckpuk

Parroquia Chacao, Miranda, Venezuela

Spotted on Jan 9, 2017
Submitted on Jan 10, 2017

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