This must be one of the odder Bromeliads to grow. Unlike most broms it is terrestrial and fully or partially deciduous with a thick, fle...Read Moreshy, almost tuberous, subterranean rhizome. The very soft textured, grassy leaves are basally convolute becoming flattened along their length. They are mid to soft grey-green with a sparse, white/grey, velvety indumentum on their undersides. Between 6 - 8 leaves (rarely more) emerge per growth and are typically lax to 40cms. or more long and 1cm. wide, often creasing under their own weight, especially on plants grown in shade.
My plants appear to make growth late in the season, commencing in summer and culminating in a 45 - 60cms. tall, rather loosely flowered spike in late summer, early autumn. The flower spike is erect/arching, with a defined bend or 'kink' in the rachis, which then grows more or less horizontally. The flowers are typically coral-red, to 4cms. long forming a tube, flaring at the tip. They are mainly arranged in a singly rank rising on the upper side of the rachis, subtended by 5cm. long, soft green, pubescent bracts. After flowering, the old shoot slowly dies away and new side growths develop, which continue throughout winter eventually forming a stout, rather prickly bud at soil level. The plant enters a short, fully or semi-dormant phase in spring and watering can be substantially reduced until growth resumes.
It may be that light levels are too low in the UK, but I find this a very untidy plant, which is more interesting than attractive. It needs maximum light in winter and is damaged by light frosts. It is probably better grown as a large clump, but even then I suspect it would be too untidy for many. The kink in the rachis (that portion of the flower spike which bears the flowers) suggests a perch for nectar feeding birds and its a fair bet that this species is pollinated by humming birds.
This must be one of the odder Bromeliads to grow. Unlike most broms it is terrestrial and fully or partially deciduous with a thick, fle...Read More