Fauna
Plant

Urn Plant

Aechmea fasciata

Also known as Silver Vase, Silver Vase Plant

Urn plants are epiphytic bromeliads native to Brazil's Atlantic coastal forests, where they grow perched on tree limbs rather than rooted in soil. Their stiff, arching leaves are coated in powdery silver-white scales called trichomes, which trap atmospheric moisture and nutrients while forming a tight central water reservoir called a phytotelma. After several years of slow growth, each rosette produces a long-lasting, pyramidal pink inflorescence dotted with fleeting violet-blue flowers, then gradually dies back while producing basal offsets.

EpiphyteHouseplantFlowering
Urn Plant reference1 / 7
(c) filipeprates, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic; absorbs water and dissolved organic debris primarily through leaf trichomes
Predators
  • Scale Insects
  • Mealybugs
  • Slugs
ThreatsHabitat destruction through coastal development, logging, and historical overcollection
HabitatsAtlantic coastal rainforest canopies, lower tree branches, and rocky slopes
Life span3–5 years per rosette; colonies persist indefinitely via vegetative offsets
Classification
  1. OrderPoales
  2. FamilyBromeliaceae
  3. GenusAechmea
  4. SpeciesAechmea fasciata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Watering: Keep the central tank filled with fresh rainwater or distilled water rather than soaking the soil.
  • Handling: Watch for fine spines along leaf margins when potting or repotting rosettes.
  • Propagation: Separate side shoots once they reach about half the size of the parent plant.
Related species
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