Plant flowering to 1 m high. Leaves numerous in a large bulb; sheaths dark brown; the outer leaf blades reduced to spinose-serrate, dark brown spines, the inner leaf blades (or sometimes all), green, linear, to 70 cm long, 1.3 cm wide, deciduous before flowering. Scape short. Inflorescence capitate, 3-12 flowered. Flowers erect; flower stalks 3 mm long; petals to 55 mm long, various shades of red or white. Ovary half superior.

Mexico to Venezuela and Peru

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.