"Uncle Derek Says"

Aechmea lamarchei

" This species was featured in an article by Harry Luther in the BSI Journal #6 1998. This caused a bit of a flurry in the Butcher household because it turned upside down our thoughts as to what an Aechmea lamarchei looked like. If you look at "Blooming Bromeliads" (1994) by Baensch page 65 you will see a photograph called Aechmea chlorophylla with long papery floral bracts. If you look at "Bromeliaceaes" (1987) by Oliva-Esteva and Steyermark page 50 you will see a photograph called Aechmea chlorophylla with long papery floral bracts. I have been assured by Harry that both are in fact Aechmea lamarchei! Some 25 years ago we obtained an Aechmea lamarchei var. rubra (see photos below) from Queensland and sort of got used to having it. BUT it did not have long papery floral bracts and this needed reference to Harry URGENTLY! Why didn't I notice the retuse, emarginate, indented (call it what you will!) short floral bracts? This would have directed me to Aechmea maculata as Harry pointed out. Many people believe that if the leaves are spotted then it is Aechmea maculata whereas the description only refers to the leaf sheath being coarsely purple spotted. "Blooming Bromeliads" (1994) by Baensch also shows an Aechmea lamarchei on page 65 which looks like OUR Aechmea lamarchei but alas I cannot see if it has retuse floral bracts to prove that it is in fact Aechmea maculata. AND what is the one named Aechmea maculata? Time will tell, as Harry works through the Macrochordion sub-genus of Aechmea. I'm pretty sure though that the Aechmea triangularis and the Aechmea bromeliifolia are correctly represented. "

Aechmea maculata

Aechmea maculata inflorescence

Aechmea maculata flower

Photo Credits:
Aechmea maculata - Derek Butcher
Aechmea maculata inflorescence - Derek Butcher
Aechmea maculata flower - Derek Butcher