Pitcairnia bakeri (André) André ex Mez
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Authority
Smith, Lyman B. 1957. The Bromeliaceae of Colombia. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 33: i-v, 1-311.
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Family
Bromeliaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Caulescent, flowering plant 1.8-2.4 meters high; stem prostrate, 2 cm. in diameter when dry, dark castaneous, densely foliate; leaves apparently dimorphic, some with large triangular-ovate sheaths and greatly reduced blades, others to 1.2 meters long, with distinct petiole and broad blade, their sheaths suborbicular, 4-5 cm. in diameter, dark castaneous, covered with a brown membrane of coalesced scales, coriaceous, petioles elongate, to 13 mm. wide, channeled, subdensely armed with straight dark spines long, blades liear-lanecolate, acuminate, nearly 8 cm. wide, entire, glabrous; scape straight, 1 cm. in diameter, covered with spreading ferruginous scales; scape-bracts densely imbricate, the lower subfoliaccous; inflorescence very densely cylindric, obtuse, 17-35 cm. long, 6-7 cm. in diameter; floral bracts broadly ovate, triangularacute, 5 cm. long, thin, purple-castaneous, rugose in transverse bands, brown- or ferruginous-farinose; sepals broad, rounded, 4 cm. long, thick; petals broadly rounded, cucullate, retuse, 7-8 cm. long, lepidote, bearing a large triangular ligule at base; anthers 15 mm. long; ovary about half superior.