Wallisia cyanea

Pink Quill is a compact epiphytic bromeliad from the rainforests of western Ecuador, instantly recognisable for its striking flat, paddle-shaped inflorescence — a dense spike of bright pink-magenta bracts from which small violet flowers emerge one or two at a time, each lasting only a day or two. The bract itself can persist for up to four months, making it one of the longest-lasting ornamental features of any bromeliad. Like all bromeliads, the plant absorbs water and nutrients primarily through its leaves rather than its roots; the roots serve mainly to anchor it to bark or substrate. It forms a stemless rosette of slender, arching, mid-green leaves with fine reddish-brown striations at the base, reaching about 18 cm tall without the flower spike and up to 30 cm in bloom. It does best in bright indirect light with temperatures between 15 and 24 °C and humidity above 50%. After flowering, the central rosette slowly dies back, but the plant produces three to twelve offsets (pups) around the base that can be separated and grown on. It can be grown mounted on cork bark or tree fern slab, or potted in a loose, fast-draining orchid or bromeliad mix — never in a dense, moisture-retentive compost. In an open terrarium with good ventilation, it thrives in the warm, humid microclimate while still getting the air circulation it needs to prevent crown rot.