"This all started in 1945 when Mulford Foster crossed Aechmea racinae with Aechmea victoriana var. discolor to produce Aechmea 'Foster's Favorite' which was patented in 1949 (see BSIJ 1988 #2 page 55 by Racine Foster). The interesting thing is that much trouble was spent in describing the plant but not the inflorescence and we do not know what it is supposed to look like! It is accepted that the inflorescence is pendant and is like Aechmea racinae but with a darker red ovary with dark purplish petals edged in white that we generally associate with Aechmea victoriana var. discolor. To add to the confusion Padilla says (Bromeliads 1973 page 123) petals are coral tipped blue, and Bromeliad Treasury (1983) as yellow! Baensch in Blooming Bromeliads (1994) page 79 shows dark purplish edged white.
Since that time I am sure that others have repeated the cross using different clones or have grown self-set seed from Aechmea 'Foster's Favorite' while still calling them Aechmea 'Foster's Favorite' or giving them a new name. 'Black Jack' and 'Perez' are just two examples. Variegation appeared in one plant in 1951 and was named Aechmea 'Foster's Favorite Favorite' by Foster in 1953. Shortly afterwards this plant sported again only this time in the collection of Hazel Mueller but with red stripes this time and was called 'Red Ribbon'
Aechmea 'Foster's Favorite', 'Foster's Favorite Favorite', and 'Red Ribbon' got exported to Australia and no doubt Australians also grew on seed from these hybrids to add to the confusion. However, this traffic was not all one-way!
In 1996 Tropiflora offered the "famed" Australian clone for sale (see Oct 1996 edition of Cargo Report) and this has an interesting story that I will relate to you. Information is from the Australian Journal "Bromeletter" 1972 #5.
In the early 1960's Aechmea 'Foster's Favorite Favorite' was imported to Sydney and offsets were in demand even though the plant did not particularly like Sydney's winter weather. A little while later it was rumoured that a more hardy form had come into being somewhere "Up North".
Olwen Ferris, these days known as the Grande Dame of Aussie Bromeliads, and a Trustee of the BSI, was then the Editor of Bromeletter and was apt to travel the "Country" looking for the odd Bromeliad. In 1970 on her way back from Queensland she found a vigorous Aechmea "Foster's Favorite Favorite'. On discussing the plant with the nurseryman she found out that it was the alleged Australian Sport obtained from a person now deceased! The trail was cold! But, was it?
Olwen does not give up easily. She checked old membership lists and decided that "Up North" meant FNQ (Far North Queensland) and wrote to a lady who lived near Townsville. Yes, she did have the plant having bought it in Townsville. (Only some 1400 miles north of Sydney). BUT she understood the original plant came from Port Macquarie (Only 400 miles north of Sydney). Olwen knew of a lady who did have a small nursery in Port Macquarie and Yes, the plant had originated there! The search had ended!
While everyone in the Bromeliad World knows of Mulford Foster, few Australians remember Mrs Jean Cannon who started the "famed" Australian clone. Apparently she had got seed of Aechmea racinae x Aechmea victoriana var. discolor from Germany( I can't always blame Americans!) and grew on the plants. ONE became variegated!
Jean Cannon sold 3 offsets, all going "Up North" to Queensland but then her interest in Bromeliads faded as the nursery found Orchids more profitable. The original plant died through neglect. This is just one example that sharing plants around is their best chance of survival.
So if you did buy a plant from Tropiflora please think about Jean Cannon who started it all off.
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