Werauhia sanguinolenta (Cogn. & Marshall) J.R.Grant

  • Family

    Bromeliaceae (Magnoliophyta)

  • Scientific Name

    Werauhia sanguinolenta (Cogn. & Marshall) J.R.Grant

  • Primary Citation

    Trop. Subtrop. Pflanzenwelt 91: 35. 1995

  • Basionym

    Vriesea sanguinolenta Cogn. & Marshall

  • Description

    Author : Juan Francisco Morales, Xavier Cornejo & Reinaldo Aguilar.

    Description: Epiphytic herbs, forming funnelform rosettes. Blades ligulate, 67-112 x 7.8-12 cm, usually with large irregular spots of deep red especially near base, the apex acute to subrounded and apiculate. Scapes erect, very stout, 45-65 cm long, greatly exceeding leaves; scape bracts erect, imbricate, exceeding nodes, green, very broadly lanceolate to ovate, the apex acute. Inflorescences simple or 3-5-branched, densely flowered, 35-67 cm long, the secondary axes ascending, the lateral ones 14-34 cm long, the rachis to 10 mm in diam., flexuose, strongly 4-angled, dark, glabrous, the terminal ca. 40 cm long, with a sterile base as long as fertile part and appearing as a continuation of scape. Floral bracts becoming secund with flowers, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, shorter than sepals, 28-50 mm long, green, coriaceous, incurved and carinate toward apex. Flowers spreading and downwardly second, on very stout pedicels, to 12 mm long; sepals very broadly elliptic or ovate, 30-45 mm long, coriaceous; petals slightly exceeding stamens, white or greenish-cream, bearing 2 scales at base. Fruits capsules, 50-56 mm long. Seeds with white coma.

    Common names: None recorded.

    Distribution: Nicaragua to Peru and the West Indies from sea level to 700(-1000) m (Smith & Downs, 1977; Morales, 2003; Tropicos).

    Ecology: In moist and wet forests.

    Phenology: This species has been observed with flowers from Jun to Sep (Morales, 2003).

    Pollination: No observations recorded.

    Dispersal: Wind dispersed.

    Taxonomic notes: This species is recognized by the robust appareance; stout scapes bearing developed pinnate inflorescences; ascending spikes with subalate dark rachises; and the floral bracts shorter than the sepals.

    Conservation: Not endangered.

    Uses: This species is cultivated as an ornamental.

    Etymology: The epithet sanguinolenta (bloody) refers to the red spots often present on the leaves.

  • Sorry, no descriptions available for this record.