Humans have been using bromeliads for thousands of years. The
Incas,
Aztecs,
Maya and others used them for food, protection, fiber and ceremony, just as they are still used today. European interest began when Spanish conquistadors returned with
pineapple, which became so popular as an exotic food that the image of the pineapple was adapted into European art and sculpture. In 1776, the species
Guzmania lingulata was introduced to Europe, causing a sensation among gardeners unfamiliar with such a plant. In 1828,
Aechmea fasciata was brought to Europe, followed by
Vriesea splendens in 1840. These transplants were so successful, they are still among the most widely grown bromeliad varieties. In the 19th century, breeders in Belgium, France and the Netherlands started
hybridizing plants for wholesale trade. Many exotic varieties were produced until World War I, which halted breeding programs and led to the loss of some species. The plants experienced a resurgence of popularity after World War II. Since then,
Dutch,
Belgian and North American nurseries have greatly expanded bromeliad production. Only one bromeliad, the pineapple (
Ananas comosus), is a commercially important food crop.
Bromelain, a common ingredient in meat tenderizer, is extracted from pineapple stems. Many other bromeliads are popular
ornamental plants, grown as both garden and
houseplants. Bromeliads are important food plants for many peoples. For example, the
Pima of Mexico occasionally consume flowers of
Tillandsia erubescens and
T. recurvata due to their high sugar content; in Argentina and Bolivia, the shoot apices of
T. rubella and
T. maxima are consumed; in Venezuela, indigenous coastal tribes eat a sour-tasting but sweet-smelling berry, known as 'Maya', of
Bromelia chrysantha as a fruit or in
fermented beverages; in Chile, the sweet fruit of
Greigia sphacelata, known as 'chupones', is consumed raw. ==See also==