Misnamed Bromeliads, N0. 7 Harry E. Luther in J Brom Soc 41: 72. 1991
For many years, Florida bromeliad growers have cultivated a large, graygreen and red mottled plant under the name Neoregelia carcharodon. About 1978 or 1980, a very different plant with softer, red-flushed leaves was introduced as Neoregelia carcharodon 'Rubra'. This latter plant has remained fairly uncommon and highly desirable and is also somewhat reluctant to flower. The positive side of this situation was that Neoregelia carchardon 'Rubra' has escaped from being lost in the mire of poorly documented neo hybrids that mimic their parents, the fate of N. farinosa, macrosepala, and pineliana. The lack of fertile material has also handicapped positive identification and study of variation between clones.
After a decade, I have finally have been able to examine a reasonable number of flowering plants of the 'Rubra' and can state that most of these are Neoregelia carcharodon (Baker) L.B. Smith. The 'Rubra' should be dropped as this is not a legal cultivar name and, at any rate, all the plants that I have seen are reddish so this distinguishing name is superfluous.
If Neoregelia carcharodon 'Rubra' is REAL Neoregelia carcharodon what is the old horticultural plant long known as plain Neoregelia carcharodon? Except for smaller marginal teeth and slightly longer sepals it is a very good match for Neoregelia pascoaliana L.B. Smith and I consider this to be the correct name for it.
The Bromeliad Identification Center Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota, Florida
