Encholirium agavoides

[funkmaster]

I am a big enthusiast of everything spiny and spikey. I started with cactus, then agave and aloe, mangave, and have now terrestrial bromeilads, such as dyckia, hechtia, orthophytum, ananas, and encholirium. I recently saw a posting on another blog about terrestrial bromeilads called "Dyckia Brazil" the had some info about a new species of encholirium called Encholirium agavoides that really caught my eye. It seems to combine some of the best appearance features of agave like Agave titanota with the wide, fat leaves, with the best features of these bromeliads like their repeat flowerings and extreme physical toughness.

Encholirium agavoides 1.jpg (117.02 KiB) Viewed 2003 times

Encholirium agavoides 2.jpg (82.59 KiB) Viewed 2003 times

I have seen very little about this plant, and maybe it is just too soon after its discovery, but I was wondering if anyone knew anything more about it or could direct me to a way to obtain this plant. Also, aside from Encholirium horridum which I have seen all over the place, are there any other of these encholirium plants that people have found sold online that they could direct me towards? Or better yet, does anyone have offsets or pups of these for sale? Thanks!

Brian

[Spination]

First I've heard of this plant - it's pretty cool! Thanks for showing.

[mickthecactus]

Indeed. Fascinating plant!

[Paul S]

Wot he said ^^

[azureus]

Paradise Found nursery lists an Encholirium spectabile. The leaves aren't as dramatic as the species you posted.

Brazilplants.com lists seeds for sale for several apparently undescribed Encholirium species. I've never ordered from there and don't know anything about it.

April

[funkmaster]

I went and checked out the site. I also sent an email to the proprietor to see if there were any images of the plants that had seeds. The bromeliad section has no images, and it would be nice to see what the plant would look like as an adult before I choose any seeds to get. I am kind of particular, wanting only things that are extraordinarily colored or of a unique shape. I really like dyckias, hechtias, bromelias, and encholirium, and have spent entire afternoons at Michael's Bromeliads in Venice, FL, but so many of the different varieties are so similar and close to each other that I end up getting very little except for really oddball plants or ones with extremely different coloration, or those that stand out so much because of the spines on the leaves. I don't want to get a bunch of seeds for dyckias and invest in growing them when they will all become something that is basically either reddish-brown or silver in color with no distinguishing feature. Same applies to agave and aloe and cactus, which I also collect. It has to be different or unusual, and not just another species just to have for the sake of completeness. I have passed up many "normal" agave and cactus because in the end, the ones offered looked so similar to what I already had even though they were a very different species. They wouldn't have stood out in the garden. I hope the seller can provide some images, for if they have some unusual, uncommon plants, it would be great to get them cheap and easily.