Greigia sphacelata (Ruiz & Pav.) Regel

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1979. Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (3): 1493-2142. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Greigia sphacelata (Ruiz & Pav.) Regel

  • Type

    Type. Ruiz & Pavon s n (holotype, MA ? n v; isotype BM), subhumid, shady ground near Concepcion, Chile.

  • Synonyms

    Bromelia sphacelata Ruiz & Pav., Billbergia spacelata (Ruiz & Pav.) Schult.f., Bromelia discolor Lindl., Bromelia crassa Steud., Bromelia clandestina Carrière

  • Description

    Description - Plant stemless. Leaves to 2 m long, rosulate, the inner erect, the outer decurved; sheaths elliptic, distinct, very stiff, entire or with a few stout spines toward apex, sparsely lepidote above with coarse brown scales, more densely beneath; blades linear, attenuate to a stout spine, 30 mm wide, bright green above, paler beneath, serrate throughout with straight spreading or ascending stout brown spines 3-4 mm long becoming minute and paler upwards. Inflorescence many, lateral, subglobose, compound, many-flowered; outer bracts broadly lanceolate, brown or dark castaneous at base, attenuate into a green spine, exceeding the flowers, coarsely serrate with brown spines. Floral bracts narrower, equaling the sepals, serrulate; pedicels short but slender. Sepals lanceolate, subulate, 37-43 mm long, connate for 5-21 mm, white, brown-lepidote, carinate; petals 30-52 mm long, more than half-connate, fleshy, soon turning brown, sometimes appendaged, the blades erect; stamens equaling or slightly exceeding the petals, subexserted at anthesis, filaments highly adnate to the petals, anthers stout, 16-19 mm long; ovary 20-25 mm long, the epigynous tube lacking; ovules uniseriate. Fruit pulpy, white; seeds almost black, lacking a gelatinous coat.

  • Discussion

    The edible fruit is sold in the market in Puerto Montt, Llanquihue, and tastes like apple.

  • Common Names

    Chupeu

  • Distribution

    Saxicolous on coastal ledge and terrestrial in open woods, 0-50 m alt, central Chile.

    Chile South America| Concepcion Chile South America|