plant acaulescent, flowering 27 cm high. leaves many, densely roseate, erect, 12–20 cm long, densely appressed lepidote on both sides; sheath broadly ovate or suborbicular, dark-chestnut; blade narrowly triangular, long attenuate, 2–3 cm broad, grayish-grey. inflorescence: peduncle erect, slender; peduncle bracts densely imbricate, elliptic, densely lepidote, the lowest foliaceous, the other broadly rounded then abruptly linear-caudate or apiculate, papery when dry; fertile part densely once-branched, paniculate, shortly cylindrical, 7 cm long, 3.5 cm in diameter; primary bracts similar to those of the upper peduncle brachts, erect, about equalling the sterile bases of the spikes; spikes diverging from the axis, with erect sterile base, densely 4–6-flowered, oblong, acute, complanate, 20 mm long, 8 mm broad; floral bracts densely imbricate, lanceolate, subcucullate, 9 mm long, slightly exceeding the sepals, obtusely carinate, papery, veined, densely appressed cinereously lepidote. flowers subsessile; sepals free, lanceolate, broadly acute, 8 mm long, carinate, nerved, glabrous; petals 13 mm long, bearing two ligules at the base, the blade oblong, broadly rounded, very lacerate, bright lilac, exceeding the stamens and style.Edited from : Smith 1951c. (protologue) Botanical Exploration In Venezuela - I, Bromeliaceae in Steyermark, J.A. et al. Contributions to the Flora of Venezuela.