Puya laxa

A perennial terrestrial bromeliad native to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, it occurs in dry shrubland. Its pointed, narrowly triangular leaves carry slender, forward-pointing brown spines and a dense covering of coarse white scales, especially underneath. The loose inflorescence branches into slender, spreading side stems bearing dark-violet flowers. Small, thin bracts accompany the flowers, whose stalks have fine white hairs. The species is classified as Vulnerable. Photographed in Florida.