CRYPTANTHUS — The “EARTH STARS” 
These Bromeliads are some of the most remarkable and interesting dish 
garden plants imaginable. Most species are very flat, ground-hugging rosettes. 
Although they grow most luxuriously with uniform moisture and bright light, 
they stand up remarkably well and live over long periods of neglect. 
Cryptanthus acaulis—Flat star-shaped rosette of silvery green leaves. 
Cryptanthus acaulis ruber—Same as above with dark bronzy red leaves with a 
silvery overcast. 
Cryptanthus bahianus—A stiff upright rosette of smooth dark reddish leaves 
ona distinct stem. Likes very bright light. 
Cryptanthus beuckerii—Upright growing rosette. The spoon shaped leaves 
are cream suffused with rose and crossbanded with emerald green. 
Cryptanthus bivattus (C. rosea picta)—Each leaf striped lengthwise with two 
green bands on a bronzy pink background. 
Cryptanthus bromeloides (C. terminalis) Upright growing plants, leaves green 
with reddish suffusion. 
Cryptanthus lacerdae ‘‘Silver Star’’—Flat rosette with frosted silvery leaves 
with two lengthwise green stripes. Most desirable. 
Cryptanthus osyanus—Large flat rosettes. Leaves tan and pink with green 
mottlings. 
Cryptanthus zonatus—Broad wavy dark brown leaves with conspicuous silvery 
gray crossbands. Makes a large strange looking plant. (See cover design.) 
Cryptanthus hybrids—These hybrids are remarkably variable but they are all 
nice. When mature they average larger in size than most of the species and 
the colors ritn the complete gamut. 
CYPTOBERGIA Meadii—Resembles a miniature pineapple plant with narrow, 
powdery pinkish leaves. Flower stem with pink bracts. 
HOHENBERGIA stellata—Brazil. Makes a huge plant. The showy cerise-red 
flower head last for months. 
NEOREGELIA marmorata—'‘Marble Plant’’. A medium-sized plant with very 
colorful marbled pattern of maroon and purple on light green leaves tipped 
with red. Grow in bright light for best color. 
Neoregelia spectabilis—Brazil. ‘‘Fingernail Plant’. Stiff, spreading rosette of 
dark green leaves, each leaf tipped with half-moon of lacquer red. 
Neoregelia spectabilis hybrid—''Fingernail Plant’. Bronzy green leaves with 
red ‘'fingernail”’ tips. 
Neoregelia spectabilis x marmorata—Maroon and green mottled leaves with 
red tips. 
Neoregelia zonatus—Brazil. Small growing type with rich colorings. Cross 
bands of purplish maroon make this most attractive. 
NIDULARIUM amazonicum—Brazil. A large grower, one of the darkest colored 
types. The leaves are a metallic purple which set off the brick red bracts 
of the flowers to perfection. 
Nidularium pictum—Rosette of green leaves. The rose-like flower head is 
composed of brilliant red bracts, long lasting. 
y: 
