Aechmea lingulata (L.) Baker
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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.
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Family
Bromeliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Sterile plants 80-120 cm tall, flowering plants slightly taller, cinereous-green. Leaves rigid-coriaceous, 90-110 cm long; sheath ovate, 15-25 cm long, entire, purple-red-brown on adaxial surface; blade strap-shaped, 5-6 cm wide, sparsely serrate with spines ca. 1 mm long, densely lepidote, the apex rounded, cuspidate and sharp, with a firm spine. Inflorescences lax, 80-120 cm long, 1-branched, with 7-15 lateral branches, the peduncle prominent, erect, 50-90 cm long, the spikelets subdensely polystichously 20-40 (or more)-flowered, cylindric, 6-15 X ca. 1.8 cm, the floral bracts ecarinate, ovate, ca. 0.5 cm long, glabrous abaxially. Flowers divergent, sessile; sepals 0.2-0.7 cm long, the two posterior sepals distinctly connate with a large suborbicular wing; petals whitish.
Distribution and Ecology - Fl (Aug), fr (Oct); rare epiphyte of lower canopy.