plant acaulescent. leaves 8–10 to a stem, with a spine-edged channelled petiole half a foot long, and a lanceolate acuminate chartaceous reflexing blade 1 ½ - 2 ft; long, 1 ½ in; broad at the middle, green and glabrous on both surfaces. inflorescence: peduncle erect, a foot long; fertile part a dense cylindrical spike half a foot long; bract-leaves adpressed, ovate-acuminate, squarrose towards the tip, bright red, greenish upwards, the lower 2 in; long. flowers whitish, 2 in; long.Edited from : Baker 1889. Handbook of the Bromeliaceae .