Aechmea biflora (L.B.Sm.) L.B.Sm. & M.A.Spencer

Literature references:

Baensch & Baensch 1994: 142,144 Bromtravels (Web) BSA (Web) Die Bromelie: 2012(3): 120 FCBS (Web): Golinski 1997 J. Bromeliad Soc.: 35:49,96 48:119 53:31 Manzanares 2002a: 167 Oliva-Esteve 2000a: 49 Smith & Downs 1979: 1519: 1517* U.S. Nat. Herb. Wien Herbarium, Inst Zaghini 2000: 48

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Comments:

• Streptocalyx biflorus by Werner Rauh in J Brom. Soc. 35(2) 70-1. 1985
  Although most streptocalyx species have very attractive inflorescences they are not found frequently in collections because the leaves form big, very spiny rosettes. The most colorful species is the Ecuadorian S. biflorus with its bright red inner rosette leaves providing a beautiful color contrast with the orange-yellow primary bracts and the pale blue flowers. Since L. B. Smith writes on page 1517 of his work, Bromelioideae, that S. biflorus is "known only from fragments," it seems to me necessary to present color photos (see both front and back covers) of this beautiful plant with the following description:
  Known from the type collection only.
  It was first (1962) collected by Dodson and Thien, No.2070, along the Rio Tope in a tropical rain forest near Topo, Pastaza, East Ecuador, at an altitude of 1300 m.