Bromelia irwinii L.B.Sm.

  • 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

    Bromelia irwinii L.B.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Irwin et al 12448 (holotype, NY), Chapada dos Veadeiros, ca 20 km west of Veadeiros, 14° S, 47° W, Goiás, Brazil, 9 Feb 1966.

  • Description

    Description - Plant flowering ca 1 m high (! Irwin). Leaves at least 37 cm long, not narrowed between sheath and blade; sheaths broadly ovate-triangular, 4 cm wide, covered beneath with coarse oblong brown scales; blades narrowly triangular, pungent, 2 cm wide, covered with coarse appressed white scales, becoming glabrous above, laxly serrate with antrorse and retrorse spines 3-4 mm long. Scape erect, 7 mm thick, covered with small finely divided crisped brown scales; scape-bracts erect and imbricate but narrow and exposing the scape, the lower subfoliaceous, the upper lance-ovate with a thick linear blade, rose-pink, subchartaceous when dry, covered beneath with appressed white scales. Inflorescence laxly bipinnate, cylindric, 20-27 cm long, white-tomentulose with small finely divided scales; primary bracts like the upper scape-bracts but ovate, the lowest exceeding the flowers; branches short but distinct. Floral bracts broadly ovate-triangular, several times shorter than the ovary; pedicels short and obscure. Sepals free, ovate-triangular, obtuse, 6 mm long, ecarinate; petals imperfectly known; blades erect, ca 10 mm long; stamens with filament-tube 10 mm long; ovary cylindric, 20 mm long, 2 mm thick.

  • Distribution

    Creek margin among rocks and on outcrops in campo and cerrado, 1000-1250 m, southern Goiás, Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America|