Rhodostachys
(from rhodon, a rose, and stachys, a flower-spike; alluding to the rose-coloured flowers of some species). SYN. Ruckia. ORD. Bromeliaceae. A small genus (six or seven species have been described) of stove herbs, natives of Chili, Columbia, and Guiana. Flowers sub-sessile, on an hemispherical or shortly conical receptacle; sepals distinct above the ovary, erect, closely imbricated; petals free, imbricated, glandular, or with two small scales at the base within; heads terminal, sessile within an involucre of numerous floral leaves. Leaves rosulate, long-linear, slightly rigid, spinuloso-serrate. The only species introduced require culture similar to Bromelia (which see).
R. andina (Andine). fl. soft rose-colour, crowded on a hemispherical receptacle, each subtended by an oval-oblong, cucullate, cuspidate, toothed, bract. Summer. l. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, margined with robust spines, numerous, rigid, thick, fleshy, glaucous-green, powdered with white, arranged in a dense, regular rosette. h. 1ft. Andes of Chili, 1850. (R. H. 1885, 540.) SYNS. Bromelia carnea. B. longifolia (of Lindley) (L. & P. F. G. ii. 65). R. grandiflora and R. littoralis are probably only forms of this species. R. bicolor (two-coloured). fl. rose-colour; inflorescence close, sessile, surrounded by a tuft of linear-ensiform, channelled, recurved, spiny-edged leaves. 1851. An interesting, almost stemless perennial. The following are probably slight forms; Bromelia bicolor (B. H. 1873, 14), B. Joinvillei (R. H. 1876, 10), Hechtia pitcairniaefolia (R. H. 1868, 211), Ruckia Ellemeeti (R. G. 571).