Monographs Details:
Authority:
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
Acevedo-RodrÃguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
Family:
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae
Description:
Species Description - Epiphytic herb, forming large, dense clusters; stems typically shorter than the leaves, clothed by the leaf bases, usually branched at the basal portion; rhizomes wanting; roots slender, few. Leaves distichous; blades strongly recurved, 3-12 cm long, linear-cylindric, 0.5-2 mm diam., rigidly coriaceous, densely covered with peltate grayish scales. Scape erect to recurved, slender, to 13 cm long; scape bracts linear, 1 or 2, usually immediately below the inflorescence; inflorescence a single l-2(-5)-flowered raceme; floral bracts like the scape bracts but smaller. Flowers nearly sessile, projecting beyond the floral bract; sepals lanceolate, 4-9 mm long; petals bluish, 2-2.2 cm long, linear. Capsule linear 2 - 2.5 cm long. Seeds with comose hairs 2-2.5 cm long.
Distribution and Ecology - Occasional on trees and shrubs of open or dry areas; commonly found on telephone wires on other islands such as Puerto Rico. Trail to Fortsberg (A4096), cm z Bay (A2515). Also on St. Croix and St. Thomas (according to Britton & Wilson, 1923); southernmost United States to Argentina, including the West Indies.
Species Description - Epiphytic herb, forming large, dense clusters; stems typically shorter than the leaves, clothed by the leaf bases, usually branched at the basal portion; rhizomes wanting; roots slender, few. Leaves distichous; blades strongly recurved, 3-12 cm long, linear-cylindric, 0.5-2 mm diam., rigidly coriaceous, densely covered with peltate grayish scales. Scape erect to recurved, slender, to 13 cm long; scape bracts linear, 1 or 2, usually immediately below the inflorescence; inflorescence a single l-2(-5)-flowered raceme; floral bracts like the scape bracts but smaller. Flowers nearly sessile, projecting beyond the floral bract; sepals lanceolate, 4-9 mm long; petals bluish, 2-2.2 cm long, linear. Capsule linear 2 - 2.5 cm long. Seeds with comose hairs 2-2.5 cm long.
Distribution and Ecology - Occasional on trees and shrubs of open or dry areas; commonly found on telephone wires on other islands such as Puerto Rico. Trail to Fortsberg (A4096), cm z Bay (A2515). Also on St. Croix and St. Thomas (according to Britton & Wilson, 1923); southernmost United States to Argentina, including the West Indies.
Discussion:
Common Name: Old Man Hand