Leaves many to 90 cm long; sheaths elliptic, green, distinct; blades ligulate, 3-5 cm wide, banded beneath with dark, rigid tip, spines 1-3 mm long. Scape erect with pink bracts, soon white. Inflorescence simple, dense, cylindric, 13-20 cm long, 6-7 cm wide; floral bracts densely overlapping, equalling the flowers, with broad, whitish, strongly crisped margins contrasting with the pink centre. Flowers stalkless, 3-5 cm long; sepals free, 10 mm long, scaled; petals erect, 20-25 mm long, hooded, blue; stamens included.

Eastern Brazil

This plant will flower more readily with neglect; favourable conditions result in offsets but few, if any, flowers.

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.