plant rupicolous of small size, stoloniferous, short stem, 1,2–3 x 1,5–2 cm. leaves numerous, densely imbricate, erect to suberect in young plants, l0–27 cm long; sheath whitish, with an enlarged base, ovate, 4–8 x 7–8 mm, glabrous, margins spinescent, spines 0,5 mm long; blade subcoriaceous, green, red at the base, lucid, linear - triangular, 0,6–26 x 0,2–0,4 cm, sparsely lepidote on both faces, abaxial face nerved, margins spinescent, spines antrorse, 0,3–0,4 mm, not as long towards the apex. inflorescence sessile, multiflowered, ca 15–20 flowers, compound, external branches with 2–3 flowers; primary bracts leaflike, red, ovate-filiform to ovate-lanceolate, 2–8,5 cm, lepidote, margins spinescent, acute apex; profile present; floral bracts subcoriaceous, red, asymmetrical, the more internal carinate, triangular, 0,9–1,2 x 0 ,6–0,7 cm, margins denticulate, entire in the more internal, apex mucronulate. flowers: sepals red, asymmetrical, strongly carinate, triangular-lanceolate, ca, l x 0,3 cm, glabrous, margins entire, apex acuminate-attenuate; petals white, linear - spatulate, ca 1,5 x 0,4 cm, obtuse apex, apiculate, petal appendages sacciform, lacerated, to ca 6 mm from the base of the petals, evident callosities; epigynous tube inconspicuous. stamens of the first whorl adnate to the petals in the basal portion, free portion of the filament ca 3,5 mm long, the second whorl with free filaments, opposite to the sepals, ca 9 mm long, anthers ca 2,3–2,5 mm long, apex apiculate. pistil: ovary trigonous, style with an inflated base, ca l cm long, stigma erect simple. fruits and seed not seen.Edited from : Wanderley 2008. (protologue) Nova espécie de Canistrum E. Morren (Bromeliaceae) do Brasil .