leaves to 4 dm long, sparsely lepidote above, densely and coarsely lepidote below, armed with stout spines 7 mm long. inflorescence: peduncle stout, glabrous; peduncle bracts foliaceous, much exceeding the internodes; fertile part laxly once-branched, pyramidal, 65 cm long, glabrous; primary bracts narrowly triangular, about equaling the long sterile bases of the branches; branches up to 15 cm long, laxly many-flowered; floral bracts ovate-elliptic, apiculate, about equaling the pedicels. flowers 15 mm long, suberect to spreading, only the pistillate phase known; pedicel 7 mm long; sepals triangular-ovate, acute, 5 mm long, roseate; petals narrowly elliptic with a carinate acuminate apex, rose, slightly coherent at base. pistil: ovary glabrous; style very short.Edited from : Smith & Downs 1974. Pitcairnioideae (Bromeliaceae) in Flora Neotropica.