Aechmea multiflora L.B.Sm.

  • Authority

    Smith, Lyman B. & Downs, Robert J. 1979. Bromelioideae (Bromeliaceae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 14 (3): 1493-2142. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aechmea multiflora L.B.Sm.

  • Type

    Type. Curran 297 (holotype, US), Rio Grungogi, Bahia, Brazil, Oct 1-Nov 30, 1915.

  • Description

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    Description - Plant flowering 5-7 dm or higher. Leaves rosulate, to 2 m long, very rigid; sheaths suboblong, slightly wider than the blades, to 4 dm long, entire, nearly black, covered on both sides with a brown membrane of fused scales; blades ligulate, attenuate to a stout rigid black spine 1-2 cm long, 11 cm wide, laxly serrate with stout curved black spines 5 mm long, covered with a whitish membrane of fused scales or becoming glabrous above. Scape erect, very stout; scape-bracts erect, densely imbricate and concealing the scape, the lower subfoliaceous, the others broadly ovate, acuminate to a stout rigid spine, densely serrate, the upper massed below the inflorescence and recurved. Inflorescence simple, very densely cylindric or ovoid, broadly obtuse, many-flowered, 15-29 cm long, 11-20 cm in diameter. Floral bracts straight, oblong, acuminate, pungent, 4-5 cm long, about equaling the sepals, 10-30 mm wide, serrulate, the lower half pale, subpapyraceous, strongly nerved, sparsely lepidote, the upper half dark castaneous, thick-coriaceous, covered with white appressed scales; flowers sessile, strongly compressed. Sepals free, subtriangular, acute, pungent, strongly asymmetric, 20-25 mm long, thick, coriaceous, dark castaneous; petals slightly exceeding the sepals at anthesis, oblong, acute, greenish white, bearing 2 oblique scales near base; stamens included; ovary slenderly obconic, 25 mm long; epigynous tube large, crateriform; placentae extending nearly the length of the cell.

  • Distribution

    Epiphytic and terrestrial, 150-360 m alt, central east coastal Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America|