Bromeliads fascinate many people because of their extraordinary variety of shapes and colors. Many species grow on trees or on rock faces and have had to develop special adaptations to their extreme habitats, such as funnels to collect rainwater or mechanisms to filter mist from the air. The flowers of bromeliads are often spectacular as well. With their bright, vibrant colors, they attract bees, hummingbirds, and bats, which pollinate them.
Following the plant exchange from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., two engaging lectures will take place in the afternoon in the Helikoniensaal of the Bohnenkamp House: At 3 p.m., Dr. Thorsten Rennebarth, a biologist and bromeliad enthusiast, will discuss current research on the systematics of the pineapple family. The title of his talk is “Genes Instead of Morphology? How Genetics Is Changing Our View of Bromeliads and the Methods Behind It.”
At 4:00 p.m., the focus will be on “Bromeliads and Other Botanical Gems in Their Natural Habitats in Ecuador.” Manfred Speckmaier, a garden curator and orchid expert from the University of Vienna Botanical Garden, will give a presentation rich in images about his trip to Ecuador and provide insights into the region’s diverse plant life. Each presentation will last 45 minutes. Admission is free.
“The Osnabrück Botanical Garden is the ideal venue for the annual general meeting of the German Bromeliad Society,” says the garden’s director, Prof. Dr. Sabine Zachgo. “This is because our garden is home to a large collection of more than 350 bromeliad species. Many of these plants were collected in the wild, which makes the collection particularly valuable from a scientific perspective.”
Additional information for the media:
PD Dr. Stefan Abrahamczyk, Osnabrück University
Curator of the Botanical Garden
stefan.abrahamczyk@uni-osnabrueck.de
