Habit: Aechmea mariae-reginae grows without discernible stems up to 100 cm (excluding inflorescence) in height. The green leaves are in a rosette forming a series of cups at their base that can hold water and detritus. The leaves are parallel veined, lanceolate, serrated margin to 10 cm wide at the base and 100 cm in length with an acuminate to rounded leaf apex.
The incomplete, imperfect, slightly zygomorphic flowers, each with a subtending bract, are arranged in a bipinnate-spike to 25 cm in height. Bright pink bracts subtend the spike. There are 3 green unfused sepals in the calyx that exceed the length of the bracts with one strongly winged. There are 3 green to white unfused petals in the corolla that are shorter than the calyx. There are 6 stamens that are shorter than the petals. The ovary is inferior with 3 locules and numerous seeds. The fruit is a capsule.
Habitat: Aechmea mariae-reginae grows terrestrially in the Bahamas in Human Altered environments (yards and gardens). In its native habitat it is an epiphyte on trees and shrubs.
Distribution: Aechmea mariae-reginae is NOT native to the Lucayan Archipelago. It is native to tropical Central America but is now common globally as an ornamental.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Aechmea mariae-reginae is not known to be used medicinally in the Bahamas.
It is grown and used in the horticultural industry.