plant acaulescent. leaves about a dozen to a stem, with an unarmed channeled petiole ½ - 1ft; long, and a lanceolate chartaceous recurving blade 2 - 3 ft; long, 2–2 ½ in; broad at the middle, green and glabrous on both sides. inflorescence: peduncle erect, a foot or more long, hidden by the adpressed petioles; fertile part a cylindrical spike 1 ½ –2 ft; long; floral bracts closely adpressed, ovate-acuminate, bright red, the lower 2–2 ½ in; long, the tips erecto-patent, not squarrose. flowers yellowish-while, 2 ½ in; long. stamens rather shorter than the petals.Edited from : Baker 1889. (protologue) Handbook of the Bromeliaceae .