[GrowRR] Aechmea 'Lucky Stripes' & 'Mardi Gras'

[derek butcher]

Hi all
David Whipkey of Texas has been growing both these cultivars for the past
15 years and has sent me photos.They are now in the queue to get attached
to the Register. He promises to sent more photos when they flower. Apart
from a different shade of green you would be hard pressed to identify them
if you lost the label! He says that he has been trying to stabilise them
but has not yet succeeded with 'Mardi Gras' being the worse offender!
What does confuse me is the drawing in Smith & Downs from the Flora of
Brazil to illustrate this species but which reminds me of A. cylindrata!
The description also says the inflorescence is sublax whereas I would call
it very lax. Despite all this I think I know an A. gamosepala when I see
one in flower!!
Uncle Derek