leaves 12–15 in a short rosette, oblong-lanceolate, 4–6 in; long, 1½ –1¾ in; broad below the middle, moderately firm in texture, pale brown on the face with a few rather indistinct transverse bands of darker brown, thinly white-lepidote on the back, narrowed to an acute point, the marginal prickles close and minute. flowers in a head in the centre of the reduced inner leaves; petals white, oblanceolate, protruded ½ in; beyond the tip of the calyx. stamens and style 1/6 in; shorter than the petals.Edited from : Baker 1889. (protologue) Handbook of the Bromeliaceae .