Catopsis occulata??? carnivorus species of Mexico on cedar slabs

Catopsis occulta is an accepted epiphytic bromeliad species native to southern and eastern Mexico, specifically found in the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Growing primarily in wet tropical biomes and cloud forests, this plant was officially described as a distinct species in 2014 by botanists Mart.-Correa, Espejo, and López-Ferr. Prior to its formal identification, it was often misidentified and grown in cultivation under the name Catopsis berteroniana.Key CharacteristicsAppearance: It features an upright, tubular, or funnel-shaped rosette of pale green leaves. The leaves are heavily coated in a powdery, chalky, white epicuticular wax (often referred to as a "bloom").Inflorescence: When it blooms, the plant produces a tall, branched flower stalk displaying striking yellow-to-orange coloration.Protocarnivory: Like its close relative C. berteroniana, Catopsis occulta is widely considered a protocarnivorous bromeliad. The powdery white wax coating its slick leaves reflects ultra-violet (UV) light, which attracts insects. When insects land on the slick, waxy surface, they lose their footing, slip into the water-filled central reservoir (tank) of the rosette, and drown. While it is a subject of ongoing study whether the plant actively secretes its own digestive enzymes, it absorbs the broken-down nutrients from the decaying insects to supplement its growth in nutrient-poor environments. We collected this plant years ago near our farm in Mexico