Rosette robust upright, funnel-shaped. Leaves large to 1.2 m long, 10 cm wide, green, with a sharp rigid tip, margins with stout, curved, widely spread green spines. Inflorescence on a slender upright scape, compound, loose pyramidal, bracts bright red. Flowers greenish-yellow, sepals green, sometimes white woolly.

A. bracteata is in the subgenus Aechmea (Group 3)

Mexico to Venezuela

Source: Christensen, T.; Butcher, D. (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.