Encyclopaedia of Bromeliads
Version 5

Foreword

Version 5 has been released January 2023. Below you can see the list of changes and additions between the different versions. New versions are planned every 4-5 years. Previous mayor versions (ver. 1, 2 and 3) were also published on CD/DVD, but this version is not available on CD/DVD, and it is not clear at this moment if it will be (will depend on the number of requests for it). You can subscribe to and support the project for one or 5 years, see How to subscribe last version for full online access.

The first initiative was developed by 3 members of the Bromelia Contact Group, but soon the project was widened to an international collaboration. Coauthors has changed from on version to an other. The online version is updated continuously and new species are normally added within a week from publication (depending on the language).
Development in the presentation of the data available online and on the CD/DVD are listed below for each version.

The species count is a very dynamic data set and a result of following the literature in a critical way (following or not following new synonymy or resurrection of names, depending on argumentation). It is possible that there may be a slight discrepancy between these numbers and those provided in the New Bromeliad Taxon List
We hope you enjoy this source of information and ask you to support the project by becoming a registered member. You find more information in the the menu at the left. Some numeric information can be found in Status Information

Version 6 (not released yet)

Version 5 (January 2023)

Version 4 (March 2018)

Version 3 (October 2012)

A problem in former version was that for some species there was little information available and for others too much to show on one screen (which must fit on old screens with 1024 x 768 pixels). The solution in this version(3) is that TABS are added when more information is available. Much more valuable information has been added, e g.:

Version 2 (October 2009)

This is a totally renewed version of the Encyclopedia, including much more photographs, data and a better interface. A lot has been changed since the first release, see also acknowledgment.
Indexes keeps always in sight in the left screen part, which makes it much easier to navigate. A new feature is to view all miniature images of all pictures included for a Genus, directly from the index, for a quick identification. For this, you can click on the next to a Genus name in the index. A literature index has been included, both presented by author and by title. There is a separate index to all species and varieties included with images. Check lists (indexes) of species by country are included and will be updated all the time.
If you access species information, you can easily go to next or previously related species, using the arrows at the taxon number in upper left corner.

Version 1 (October 2005)

Several years ago the idea was born to start a Bromeliad CD project, combining as much information as possible about all existing Bromeliad species and names. It had to include all Bromeliad names, correct ones as well as synonyms, publication information, other literature references, distribution & habitat information and even more important loads of pictures.
We did realize that this was a monster project and we can not do it on our own. Especially we need picture donors to get most of the species illustrated. Also data collecting and maintenance is a huge project and in the end we would like to add descriptions and keys too.
The project started with a collaboration of three persons: Hugo Claessen, Kees and Eric Gouda. For literature references Leo Dijkgraaf has been asked to share his affords in his search for Bromeliad literature and he was willing to do so.
This first version is a nice begin, but far from complete and we seek for collaboration with other Bromeliad enthusiasts and picture donors.

Eric J. Gouda