Bromelia pinguin L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bromelia pinguin L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Terrestrial large, acaulescent herb. Leaves linear, 1-2 m long, 3-5 cm wide, rigidly coriaceous, involute, long-acuminate to caudate, and spine- tipped at apex, the margins with brownish, the margins with brownish, curved, ascending spines 0.5-1cm long; young leaves usually bright red above. Scapes to 40cm tall, stout, whitish farinose-pubescent; scape bracts oblong-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, papery decreasing in size toward the apex of the scape; inflorescence paniculate, 3-15 cm long, whitish farinose-pubescent, 8—12- flowered, the axes flattened; floral bracts subulate, 5-9 mm long. Flowers sessile or shortly pedicellate; hypanthium fusiform, densely whitish farinose-pubescent, 2-2.5 cm long; sepals subulate, 2-2.5 cm long, white farinose-pubescent; petals pink, whitish toward the margins, 2.5-3 cm long, acute, reflexed and woolly at apex; anthers lanceolate, 8.5-9 mm long. Berry fusiform to ovoid, 2.7-3.5 cm long, densely woolly-tomentose when young, turning yellowish and glabrescent at maturity. Seeds numerous, nearly lenticular, reddish brown, ca. 4 mm long, surrounded by a white to light yellow, acid pulp.

  • Discussion

    Common name: ping wing.

  • Distribution

    Apparently introduced as a hedge plant, now spontaneous on waste grounds, roadsides, and trail sides. Lind Point (A2798), Chocolate Hole (A1979). Also on St. Croix and St. Thomas; throughout tropical America.

    Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|