Aechmea politii L.B.Sm.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aechmea politii L.B.Sm.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Florifera ultra 7 dm alta; foliis 7-10 dm longis, utrinque lepidibus adpressis pallidis vestitis. vaginis ellipticis, amplis, 25-30 cm longis, laminis ligulatis, late acutis vel rotundatis et cuspidato-apiculatis, 8-9 cm latis, planis, spinis latis planis ad 7 mm longis laxe armatis; scapo erecto, 7 mm diametro, albo-flocculoso, mox glabro; scapi bracteis erectis9 ellipticis, acutis, quam intemodiis multo brevioribus, integris, ex si ceo chartaceis, rubris, albo-lepidotis; inflorescentia laxe bipinnatim paniculata, 3 dm longa, bracteis primariis exceptis mox glabra; bracteis primariis infimis eis scapi similibus sed majoribus, ad 11 cm. longis, deflexis, alteris valde abrupteque reductis, eis florigeris similibus; spicis divergentibus vel patentibus, basi brevissima nuda inclusa ad 8 cm longis, laxe 8-12-floras rhachi gracili, geniculata; bracteis florigeris suborbicularibus, apiculatis, planis, minimis; floribus sessilibus, divergentibus; sepalis asymmetricis, ovatis, obtusiss brevissime mucronatis, 7 mm longis; petalis 15 mm longis, basi ligulis binis dentatis auctis; staminibus inclusis; ovario ellipsoideo, 5 mm longo, tubo epigyno brevi sed distincto, placentis centralibus, ovulis caudatis; bacca ex ovario valde incrassato.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 62.

    TYPE: epiphyte, open rain forest, vicinity of Base Camp, 150 m alt., Cerro Sipapo (Paraque), Amazonas, Venezuela, November 24, 1948, B. Maguire & L. Politi 27373.

    Number 28784 and its green phase, number 28785, have had their inflorescences nearly ruined by some accident but there is enough left to indicate that they are this species. They are noted as terrestrial, frequent in mixed forest, Intermediate Camp at 650 m alt., Cerro Sipapo.

    By its large broad coarsely toothed leaves Aechmea politii is quickly distinguished from the nearly related Ae. schultesiana Mez, and by its remote entire scape-bracts from Ae. nivea L. B. Smith.