leaves ensiform, a foot long, an inch broad above the dilated base, tapering gradually to the pungent apex, green and naked on the face, thinly white-lepidote on the back, armed with minute ascending horny prickles. inflorescence panicled, the end spike much the largest, moderately dense, a foot long, with a stout pubescent rachis; floral bracts ovate, ¼ - ½ in; long. flowers: sepals oblong, obtuse, 1/3 in; long; petals half as long again as the calyx; blade short, obovate. stamens shorter than the petals. pistil: style very short.Edited from : Baker 1889. (protologue) Handbook of the Bromeliaceae .