Plant when flowering 9-32 cm high, stem usually well developed. Leaves densely many-ranked, rarely secund, 4-14 cm long, 5-15 mm wide. Scape well developed, scape bracts overlapping, rose-pink. Inflorescence simple with 5-20 flowers, many-ranked, dense; floral bracts ovate, usually exceeding the sepals, hairless, bright rose; sepals 12-19 mm long, posterior pair strongly united, hairless; petals 17-27 mm long, the blades spreading, very dark blue; stamens included.

Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and north-eastern Argentina.

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.