Genus of about 70 species of evergreen, some times rhizomatous or stoloniferous, epiphytic or terrestrial perennials from coastal scrub, woodland, and rainforest in South America. The favourite variety, Neoregelia carolinae tricolor, blushes at the centre when about to flower, whereas the Fingernail Plant reddens at the leaf tips. The glossy leaves are about a foot long, and with age the foliage of the tricolour variety becomes suffused with pink.