A plant belonging to one of the 1770 species comprising the family Bromeliaceae, almost all of which are native to subtropical America. They are monocots, some epiphytes growing on the exterior of other plants, obtaining nutrients from rain water and using their roots only for anchorage. Others are rosette trees, which have fully developed roots. Several bromeliads are grown for ornament and some produce edible fruit; the pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a bromeliad.