Brocchinia Reducta

 We cover everything you need to know about the carnivorous Brocchinia reducta, including its location, structure, and more.

Brocchinia reducta is a type of carnivorous bromeliad that grows in nutrient-poor soil. Interestingly, this plant adapts to many environments, including rocks where the Brocchinia uses its roots as an anchor. Brocchinia reducta is a terrestrial plant and does not have a stem. The young plantlets and leaves grow directly from the roots up. Brocchinia reducta usually grows around 4 to 12 inches, though some can grow larger.

There are two other species of tank bromeliads that are carnivorous: Brocchinia hectiodies and Catopsis berteroniana.

Brocchinia reducta, like other bromeliads, uses overlapped leaves to form a tight, water-storing cup. The leaves around Brocchinia reducta’s cup are usually colored green or yellow and coated with waxy, loose scales. If Brocchinia reducta is grown in full light, the leaves will be tall and upright with yellow coloring. If conditions are not ideal, the leaves will grow floppy and green. The tallest Broccinia reducta plants, predictably, grow in the summer.

In addition, Brocchinia reducta leaves reflect ultraviolet light. Many insects are drawn to this ultraviolet light (reflected by numerous flowers as well). In addition, the water inside the cup emits a pleasant, sweet odor to attract ants and similar insects. 

The plant absorbs nutrients through the outer cell wall. This wall is covered in tiny appendages called trichomes, which transport molecules. The plant also uses bacteria to decompose insects before absorbing those nutrients. Some theories once thought the Brocchinia reducta secreted a specific enzyme to decompose insects. However, this has not been proven by modern techniques. When insects land on Brocchinia reducta, they slip from the loose scales into the water-filled cup where they eventually drown.

While Brocchinia reducta preys on small instincts, the tube acts as a habitat for certain animal species, such as the bromeliad tree frog, flatworms, snails, crabs, and salamanders. Some of those animals spend their whole lives inside the tube. Certain animals will also feed on the Brocchinia reducta, such as the bromeliad weevil, known as the “Evil Weevil” to horticulture enthusiasts.

Bromeliads like Brocchinia reducta serve as a small ecosystem. Debris and leaves fall into the tub and help single-celled organisms and algae. These organisms then feed insect larvae and mosquitoes.

Brocchinia reducta leaves are lined with thin red veins that are very distinctive looking. The flowers are relatively small and rise on tall spires over the plant’s tube.

Brocchinia reducta is native to several South American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. In their natural habitat, Brocchinia mainly grows in sandy or swampy sites. In addition, the plant grows in large numbers on the tepui summits and in the shrubby lowlands.

Brocchinia reducta is a hardy plant, but it still requires certain tropical conditions to grow. This includes high humidity, plenty of sunlight, acidic soil, moist conditions, and warm temperatures above freezing. In cultivation, Brocchinia reducta prefers well-draining and loose soil. However, it is quite a unique plant to find in a carnivorous plant collection.