Aechmea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae (subfamily Bromelioideae). The name comes from the Greek aichme, meaning “spear”. Aechmea comprises eight subgenera[citation needed] and around 250 species distributed from Mexico through South America and the Caribbean.[1] Most of the species in this genus are epiphytes.[citation needed]
Subgenera include:[citation needed]
Aechmea subg. Aechmea Baker
Aechmea subg. Chevaliera (Gaudichaud ex Beer) Baker
Aechmea subg. Lamprococcus (Beer) Baker
Aechmea subg. Macrochordion (De Vriese) Baker
Aechmea subg. Ortgiesia (Regel) Mez
Aechmea subg. Platyaechmea (Baker) Baker
Aechmea subg. Podaechmea Mez
Aechmea subg. Pothuava (Baker) Baker
