Disteganthus basilateralis Lem.
Literature references:
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Comments:
- Disteganthus basi-lateralis by Harry Luther in J Brom Soc 40(3): 99-100. 1990
The genus Disteganthus has for many years remained an almost mythical entity to bromeliad collectors. Even the few who were aware of its existence knew little more than that it flowers from the base of the plant and vaguely resembles a large and spiny Cryptanthus beuckeri.
The genus Disteganthus was established by Lemaire in 1847. The original publication in Flore de Serres' was illustrated with a beautiful hand-colored plate showing the details of the axillary, basal inflorescences with their pink bracts and yellow petals. That plate was done from a living plant since Disteganthus basi-lateralis was in cultivation in Paris at that time. It seems to have disappeared from horticulture soon after that.
In 1960, the genus Disteganthus disappeared as well, submerged into the catch-all genus Aechmea Ruiz & Pavon. There it remained until 1976 when L.B. Smith and R.W. Read resurrected it to genus level.
The genus Disteganthus now contains two species: D. basi-lateralis Lem. from French Guiana and the Brazilian D. calatheoides (L.B. Smith) L.B. Smith & R. W. Read (first described as Aechmea calatheoides). Neither species is well known. Of D. calatheoides there is only the type collection. D. basi-lateralis is evidenced by only four collections, the latest two by Dr. John Kress were the first to be introduced into American horticulture through the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. The first release of plants of D. basi-lateralis was made at the 1988 World Bromeliad Conference rare plant auction.
Disteganthus basi-lateralis grows as a terrestrial in dense, wet forests usually in large colonies. Plants have done well in cultivation at Selby Gardens and appear to be prolific in the production of stoloniferous offsets. Our plants are grown in ten-inch bulb pans in a commercial seedling orchid mix kept moist and well fed and always above 62 degrees F. None has yet flowered, perhaps because they have been divided and not allowed to cluster.
The accompanying habitat photos of Disteganthus basi-lateralis should be of interest to growers who have acquired (or hope to acquire) this strange and uncommon plant. —See Smith & Downs 1979
