Monographs Details:
Authority:
Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1979. Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (3): 1493-2142. (Published by NYBG Press)
Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1979. Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (3): 1493-2142. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae
Synonyms:
Aechmea lalindei Linden & Rodigas, Aechmea gigas E.Morren & C.H.Wright
Aechmea lalindei Linden & Rodigas, Aechmea gigas E.Morren & C.H.Wright
Description:
Description - Plant dioecious, 4-9 dm high. Leaves 15-30 in a dense spreading rosette, the outer ones 8-9 dm long, the inner progressively shorter; sheaths elliptic, to 16 cm wide, coriaceous, densely and finely brown-appressed-lepidote; blades ligulate, subrounded or abruptly acute, apiculate, pungent, 8-10 cm wide, densely and finely appressed-cinereous-lepidote especially beneath, densely serrate with antrorsely curved spines to 3 mm long. Scape erect, stout, white-farinose; scape-bracts reflexed, crowded just beneath the inflorescence, elliptic, acute, 1-2 dm long, densely spinose-serrate, subchartaceous when dry, bright rose, finely appressed-cinereous-lepidote especially beneath. Inflorescence simple, densely spicate with many-ranked flowers, cylindric, 1-2 dm long, to 53 mm in diameter. Floral bracts very narrowly triangular, from 4 mm long to almost lacking, membranaceous; flowers functionally unisexual, sessile, spreading. Sepals elliptic with a very large irregular lateral wing overtopping the apex, mucronate, 11 mm long, farinose; petals erect, oblong, emarginate, 15-20 mm long, white toward base, blue toward the apex, bearing 2 large, oblong, sparsely fimbriate scales at base; stamens equaling the petals, the second series highly connate with the petals; ovary obconic; 5 mm long, deeply sulcate, the epigynous tube wanting; ovules borne at the top of the cell, caudate.
Description - Plant dioecious, 4-9 dm high. Leaves 15-30 in a dense spreading rosette, the outer ones 8-9 dm long, the inner progressively shorter; sheaths elliptic, to 16 cm wide, coriaceous, densely and finely brown-appressed-lepidote; blades ligulate, subrounded or abruptly acute, apiculate, pungent, 8-10 cm wide, densely and finely appressed-cinereous-lepidote especially beneath, densely serrate with antrorsely curved spines to 3 mm long. Scape erect, stout, white-farinose; scape-bracts reflexed, crowded just beneath the inflorescence, elliptic, acute, 1-2 dm long, densely spinose-serrate, subchartaceous when dry, bright rose, finely appressed-cinereous-lepidote especially beneath. Inflorescence simple, densely spicate with many-ranked flowers, cylindric, 1-2 dm long, to 53 mm in diameter. Floral bracts very narrowly triangular, from 4 mm long to almost lacking, membranaceous; flowers functionally unisexual, sessile, spreading. Sepals elliptic with a very large irregular lateral wing overtopping the apex, mucronate, 11 mm long, farinose; petals erect, oblong, emarginate, 15-20 mm long, white toward base, blue toward the apex, bearing 2 large, oblong, sparsely fimbriate scales at base; stamens equaling the petals, the second series highly connate with the petals; ovary obconic; 5 mm long, deeply sulcate, the epigynous tube wanting; ovules borne at the top of the cell, caudate.
Distribution:
Costa Rica South America| Guanacaste Costa Rica Central America| Limón Costa Rica Central America| Heredia Costa Rica Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Cartago Costa Rica Central America|
Costa Rica South America| Guanacaste Costa Rica Central America| Limón Costa Rica Central America| Heredia Costa Rica Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Cartago Costa Rica Central America|