Portea alatisepala

Description

Portea alatisepala is a plant species in the genus Portea. The bromeliad is endemic to Bahia state and to the Atlantic Forest biome (Mata Atlantica Brasileira), located in southeastern Brazil. Portea is a genus in the plant family Bromeliaceae, subfamily Bromelioideae. It is native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil. It is named for Dr. Marius Porte, a nineteenth-century French naturalist who died in 1866 in Manilla while on a collection expedition for the National Museum of Natural History. Portea is a small group of plants. According to the Bromeliad Binomial, it currently includes just nine species. The plants are natives of the eastern coast of Brazil where they tend to be medium to large plants. They thrive in strong light. The foliage of this genus often is quite attractive, although heavily protected by sharp spines. The branches of the inflorescence are somewhat lengthy. This characteristic makes the bloom even more stunning. The plant produces a tall bloom of lavender flowers followed by dark purple berries. Although the leaves are frost sensitive, the plants usually survive cold temperatures and produce blooms in the late spring.