From the Greek – orthos, straight and phyton, plant; referring to the straight, erect inflorescence.
Plants stemless or caulescent. Leaves numerous in many ranks; sheaths clasping the stem; blades very narrowly triangular, long-attenuate, serrate. Scape erect or absent with leaf-like bracts. Inflorescence bipinnate from several very dense heads or rarely simple; floral bracts large, sharp tip. Flowers stalkless; sepals free, mainly symmetric; petals free, with 2 scales, stamens shorter than petals.
Mainly by offsets.
About 20 species from eastern Brazil.
Source: (2005). Bromeliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.