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The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
plant
Ghost Orchid
Dendrophylax lindenii
Dendrophylax lindenii, the ghost orchid is a rare perennial epiphyte from the orchid family (Orchidaceae). It is native to Florida and Cuba. Other common names include palm polly and white frog orchid.
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plant
Dracula Orchid
Dracula
The orchid genus Dracula, abbreviated as Drac in horticultural trade, consists of 118 species native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The name Dracula literally means "little dragon", an allusion to the mythical Count Dracula, a lead character in numerous vampire novels and films. The name was applied to the orchid because of the blood-red color of several of the species, and the strange aspect of the long spurs of the sepals. The plants were once included in the genus Masdevallia, but became a separate genus in 1978. This genus has been placed in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae.
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plant
Monkey Face Orchid
Dracula simia
Dracula simia, known also as the monkey-like Dracula, is an epiphytic orchid originally described as part of the genus Masdevallia, but later reclassified as part of genus Dracula. The arrangement of column, petals and lip resembles a monkey's face. The plant blooms at any season with several flowers on the inflorescence that open successively. Flowers are fragrant with the scent of a ripe orange. The monkey orchid is native to the cloud forests of Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Although it was first documented in Ecuador, its natural habitat extends across these three countries. Currently, this orchid is in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction and over-collection.
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plant
Urn Plant
Aechmea fasciata
Aechmea fasciata is a species of flowering plant in the Bromeliaceae family. It is commonly called the silver vase or urn plant and is native to Brazil. This plant is probably the best known species in this genus, and it is often grown as a houseplant in temperate areas.
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plant
Flaming Sword
Vriesea splendens
Vriesea splendens, or flaming sword, is a species of flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. Native to Trinidad, eastern Venezuela and the Guianas these plants were introduced to Europe in 1840. This species of Vriesea features smooth-margined foliage with brown bands growing in a rosette, usually producing a bright red inflorescence in a flattened spike. It is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
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plant
Neoregelia
Neoregelia carolinae
Neoregelia carolinae, the blushing bromeliad, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Neoregelia. It is noted for its centre turning red when it's about to flower, from where the common name (blushing) is derived. This species is endemic to Brazil.
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plant
Fireball Bromeliad
Neoregelia 'Fireball'
Neoregelia is a genus of epiphytic flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae, native to South American rainforests. The genus name is for Eduard August von Regel, Director of St. Petersburg Botanic Gardens in Russia (1875–1892).
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plant
Spanish Moss
Tillandsia usneoides
Spanish moss is an epiphytic flowering plant that often grows upon large trees in tropical and subtropical climates. It is native to much of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Central America, South America, the Southern United States, and West Indies. It has been naturalized in Queensland (Australia). It is colloquially known as "old man's beard" in several places, and known as "grandpa's beard" in French Polynesia. It has the widest distribution of any bromeliad.
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plant
Sky Plant
Tillandsia ionantha
Tillandsia ionantha, the air plant, is a species of plant in the genus Tillandsia. This species is native to Central America and Mexico. It is also reportedly naturalized in Broward County, Florida, United States.
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plant
Bulbous Air Plant
Tillandsia bulbosa
Tillandsia bulbosa, the bulbous airplant, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Tillandsia. It is widespread across Central America, the West Indies, southern Mexico, and northern and eastern South America.
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plant
Xerographica
Tillandsia xerographica
Tillandsia xerographica is a species of flowering plant in the bromeliad family. It is native to southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The name is derived from the Greek words ξηρός (xeros), meaning "dry", and γραφία (graphia), meaning "writing". It is included in Tillandsia subg. Tillandsia.
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plant
Caput-Medusae
Tillandsia caput-medusae
Tillandsia caput-medusae is a species of flowering plant in the bromeliad family, Bromeliaceae, subfamily Tillandsioideae. Common names include octopus plant and medusa's head. An epiphyte native to Central America and Mexico, T. caput-medusae is a commonly cultivated bromeliad species. The thick, channeled, tapering and twisting leaves are up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long and are covered in fine gray hairs. The rosette of leaves arise from an inflated pseudobulb. Pups are produced after blooming, as is usual with most Tillandsia species.
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plant
Pink Quill
Wallisia cyanea
Wallisia cyanea, or pink quill, is a species of plant of the genus Wallisia in the bromeliad family, native to the rainforests of Ecuador. An epiphytic perennial growing to 50 cm (20 in) high by 50 cm (20 in) wide, it has stemless rosettes of thin, recurved leaves and paddle-shaped spikes of 20 pink bracts with violet flowers, in spring and autumn.
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plant
Earth Star
Cryptanthus bivittatus
Cryptanthus bivittatus, is a small, terrestrial species of plant in the family Bromeliaceae. Reaching a height of only 6 - 8 inches and preferring moderate or diffuse light, it is commonly used in terrariums and novelty planters.
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plant
Pineapple
Ananas comosus
The pineapple is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae.
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plant
Red Pineapple
Ananas bracteatus
The pineapple is a tropical plant with an edible fruit; it is the most economically significant plant in the family Bromeliaceae.
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invertebrate
Springtails
Collembola
Springtails form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered insects, i.e. Protura, Diplura and Collembola. Although the three lineages are sometimes grouped together in a class called Entognatha because they have internal mouthparts, they do not appear to be any more closely related to one another than they are to insects, which have external mouthparts. There are more than 9000 species.
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invertebrate
Tropical White Springtails
Folsomia candida
Folsomia candida is a species of springtail in the family Isotomidae. It is found in soil in many locations around the world, having been spread inadvertently by humans. It reproduces by parthenogenesis and has been used as a model organism in research.
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invertebrate
Orange Springtails
Yuukianura aphoruroides
The family Neanuridae contains pudgy short-legged springtails of the order Poduromorpha. It was established by Carl Börner in 1901.
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invertebrate
Dwarf White Isopod
Trichorhina tomentosa
Trichorhina tomentosa, known informally as the dwarf white isopod, is a species of woodlouse in the family Platyarthridae. It is a parthenogenetic species, and only female individuals are known. Native to tropical regions throughout the Americas, dwarf white isopods have been introduced to other tropical regions worldwide.
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