Freezea

The genus was isolated in 1843 by the English botanist John Lindley (1799-1865) from the genus Tillandsia and named after the Dutch doctor and botanist Willem Henrik de Vries ( Dutch Willem Hendrik de Vriese , 1806-1862), a researcher of the South East Asia ^[5] .

In the literature on indoor gardening, the word vriesia is usually used as the Russian name - by transliteration of the scientific name.

Synonyms of the scientific name ^[5] :

• Hexalepis Raf. (1838) , nom. rej.
• Neovriesia Britton (1923) , nom. illeg.

Do not confuse the genus Friesey ( Vriesea ) with the genus Freesia ( Freesia ) from the Iris family.

The genus range covers Central America , the West Indies , as well as South America to the very south of Brazil and Argentina ^[3] .

Frisians can grow on trees, and, like some other bromeliads , on rocks - for example, sticky Frisian ( Vriesea glutinosa ). In Southeast Brazil, granite cliffs over a vast area are covered with various species of Frisian and tillandsia ( Tillandsia ) ^[3] .

Frisians are epiphytes . The absorption function at the roots of the freezers is largely lost, the roots serve only to attach the plant to the substrate ^[3] .

Leaves are collected in sockets . The edges of the leaves are smooth. The leaves of some species have multi-colored stripes, covered with scales ^[4] . The leaf sheaths are widened and tightly encircle each other with the edges, forming a container (which is usually called a cistern), in which rainwater accumulates. The volume of the tank at the giant freezea ( Vriesea gigantea ) reaches five liters. Bacteria , cyanobacteria , algae , higher plants , and also many animals constantly live in tanks ^[3] .

The plants have a long peduncle (sometimes up to one meter long) with spike-shaped inflorescences and bright red, orange or yellow bracts that last for several months. Sepals are free or nearly free. Petals can be either free or connected in a tube. At the base of each petal is two scales. Different species bloom at different times of the year ^{[3] [4]} .

Ovary superior or almost superior. The fruit is a box . Seeds - with crested appendages ^[3] .

For indoor cultivation, Vriesia carinata ( keeled-shaped Frisian ), Vriesia fosteriana ( Foster Frisian ), Vriesia splendens ( brilliant Frisian , or flaming Frisian ), Vriesia psittacina , as well as their hybrids , including one of the most famous cultivators of Frisians, are most suitable - Vriesia 'Christine' ^[4] .

Accommodation

Like all bromeliads , the freeze throughout the year needs a warm room with a temperature of at least 17-19 ° C and humid air, as well as protection from direct sunlight. The most suitable place for this plant is a window greenhouse or a winter garden.

Care

Abundant watering at room temperature is important. Water should not contain lime . In spring and summer, water must be poured into leaf funnels. The plant should often be sprayed with water and fed once every two weeks with complex liquid fertilizers.

Pests and diseases

The plant is very affected by the invasion of the red tick . Various spots appear on the plant if the soil is excessively moist or very dry air.

Breeding

Perhaps offspring from the mother plant - or seeds .

According to the database of The Plant List , the genus includes 361 species ^[6] .

• Takhtadzhyan A. L. Family of bromeliads (Bromeliaceae) // Plant Life. In 6 t. / Ch. ed. A. L. Takhtadzhyan . - M .: Education, 1981. - T. 6. Flowering plants. / Ed. A. L. Takhtadzhyana . - S. 275-286. - 543 p. - 300,000 copies.
• Botany. Encyclopedia "All plants of the world": Per. from English = Botanica / ed. D. Grigoriev et al. - M .: Könemann, 2006 (Russian edition). - S. 929. - ISBN 3-8331-1621-8 .