Aechmea fulgens Brongn.
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Authority
Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1979. Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (3): 1493-2142. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Bromeliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Plant flowering over 5 dm high. Leaves 15-20 in a dense funnelform rosette, 3-4 dm long; sheaths elliptic, large but not distinct, obscurely and minutely brown-lepidote; blades ligulate, broadly acute or rounded and apiculate, 40-65 mm wide, narrowly channeled, serrate with minute antrorse spines. Scape erect, red, glabrous; scape-bracts suberect, longer than the internodes, lanceolate, acute, entire, thin, rose. Inflorescence narrowly pyramidal, compound at base, simple from middle to apex, lax, 15-20 cm long, 6-7 cm in diameter, glabrous; lowest primary bract like the scape-bracts and sometimes exceeding the axillary spike, the others much reduced or lacking; spikes spreading, laxly 3-8-flowered; rhachis geniculate, red. Floral bracts lacking; flowers sessile, divergent, to 22 mm long. Sepals nearly free, strongly asymmetric, emarginate, to 5 mm long, unarmed, dark purple; petals elliptic, obtuse, 12 mm long, blue or purple at anthesis, soon turning red, bearing 2 fimbriate scales at base; ovary ellipsoid, thick, red; epigynous tube evident; placentae apical; ovules long-caudate.