FloraPix

9784 - Bromeliads (Garden) - 2012-04-07
(Dimension: 1308 x 856 pixels - Counter: 10739)
Unknown possibly Aechmea

Locality: Unknown - Plant was grown in a mixed collection in Brisbane Australia
Photographer: Neville Wood (Sent: brom-l@science.uu.nl)
Identification: pending

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Add Note: Charles E. Dills (2012-04-07) - M background is rather weak and sketchy but i strongly suspect this is a hybrid.

If someone would keep track of the "mixed collection" and note which two Aechmeas bloomed at the same time you would probably find the parents. ---Chas---
Add Note: Paul Turvey (2012-04-07) - Sorry about previous email - first time on. This plant is often known as Aechmea macrochlamys in Australia, but with floral bracts near-absent it clearly is not. It is a very close match for Portea fosteriana Smith, with the inflorescence becoming more extended and the protruding lateral wings on the sepals becoming much more obvious as the flowers mature. It differs from the description of Smith primarily in that the pedicel is shorter and thicker, although still obvious. Possibly it is within the range of natural variation for P. fosteriana, or a closely related species. The characteristics seem very close to P. fosteriana for it to be a simple hybrid. Cheers, Paul
Identification: Uncle Derek (2012-04-13) =Aechmea 'Macfoster' - Ross Little tells me This is a problem plant inherited by Australians from an unidentified import from the USA many years ago, We are unable to get this plant to fit suggested descriptions eg: Ae macrochlamys or Portea fosteriana we feel it best solved by giving it a cultivar name of Aechmea 'Macfoster' as it fits much closer to Aechmea than Portea. More details will be published shortly (Sent: brom-l@science.uu.nl)