Aechmea blanchetiana (Baker) L.B.Sm.
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Authority
Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1979. Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (3): 1493-2142. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Bromeliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Blanchet s n (holotype, BM), Bahia, Brazil.
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Synonyms
Streptocalyx laxiflora Baker, Tillandsia blanchetiana Baker, Aechmea laxiflora Mez, Aechmea remotiflora Mez
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Description
Description - Plant flowering 12-18 dm high. Leaves about 12 in a dense funnelform rosette, straight or slightly curved, to 9 dm long; sheaths broadly ovate, very large, entire, dark brown, covered with minute appressed scales; blades ligulate, broadly rounded and apiculate, to 10 cm wide, densely serrate with dark spines 1 mm long, covered with minute pale appressed scales especially beneath. Scape erect, to 15 mm in diameter; scape-bracts imbricate and wholly covering the scape, broadly ovate, subacute, over 8 cm long, deciduous. Inflorescence laxly tripinnate; primary bracts lanceolate, acute, much shorter than the branches; branches subspreading; spikes linear, laxly many-flowered, 15-35 cm long; rhachis nearly straight, slender, compressed, sparsely white-flocculose or glabrous. Floral bracts suberect or divergent, not covering the rhachis, lance-ovate, acuminate but not pungent, 30-35 mm long, about equaling the sepals and 2-3 times as long as the internodes, convex, coriaceous and red with submembranaceous entire yellow margins, strongly nerved at least by the margins and apex, nearly glabrous; flowers sessile, 4 cm long. Sepals strongly asymmetric, narrowly sublanceolate, acute, to 24 mm long, short-connate, strongly nerved, glabrous; petals ligulate, yellow, bearing 2 oblong scales at base; stamens included; ovary subellipsoid, constricted at apex, trigonous, 15 mm long, epigynous tube large; placentae subapical; ovules caudate.
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Distribution
Terrestrial in coastal scrub (restinga), Bahia, Brazil.
Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America|