; 0 acaulescent, the whole plant 9–14 in; 1 high. leaves in a dense basal rosette, ensiform-acuminate from an ovate base, ½ ft; long, ¼ - 1/3 in; broad above the base, tapering gradually to a long point, green, glabrous and channelled down the face, persistently lepidote on the back, armed with small hooked brown horny marginal spines. inflorescence: peduncle erect, 6–10 in; long; upper bract-leaves ovate, adpressed, scariose. flowers few, in a dense erect simple subspicate raceme 2–3 in; long; floral bracts ovate, acute, membranous, an inch long; pedicel very short; sepals ovate, acute, ¾ in; long; petals apparently pale, twice as long as the calyx, ca 1.5 in long, twisted after flowering. fruits under ½ in; long, rigid, septicidally 3-valved; seeds with a broad horny border all round.Edited from : Baker 1889. (protologue) Handbook of the Bromeliaceae .