Authority:

Mori, S. A., et al. 1997. Guide to the vascular plants of central French Guiana: Part 1. Pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and monocotyledons. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-422.

Family:

Bromeliaceae

Description:

Species Description - Sterile plants 16-25 cm tall, flowering plants slightly taller, forming an open or crateriform, pale lustrous green and mostly red-striate rosette. Leaves thin, 15-30 cm long, densely and minutely lepidote; sheath obovate-oblong, 2.5-4.4 cm long; blade very narrowly triangular, 1-2.5 cm wide, attenuately acute and sharp. Inflorescences 10-20 cm long, unbranched, erect, the peduncle 4-6 cm long, the spike densely and distichously 8-15-flowered, strongly complanate, obovate- lanceolate, 8-13 X 3-4 cm wide, the floral bracts triangular- ovate, 2.6-3.5 cm long, alate-carinate at apex, subglabrous abaxially, lustrous-green or pale-lilac. Flowers appressed, sessile; sepals 2.3-2.7 cm long, with a thickened midrib, bluntly carinate at base when dry, free; petal blades spreading, pale blue, acute at apex.

Distribution and Ecology - Fl (May), fr (Oct); epiphyte, common on trunks of trees