Registration of Billbergia KAHIBAH
by Dr R.D. Johnston. Society Registrar of Cultivars (Reprinted from Bromeletter, Vol.1 No.4, Nov/Dec 1963.)

At recent meetings we have seen specimen plants resulting from the pollination of Billbergia saundersii x amoena with pollen from the commonly grown "B. nutans". The originator of this hybrid combination is Mrs Win Reid of Kahibah (near Newcastle, NSW) who is to be congratulated on the production of a very attractive group of plants.

As would be expected from the parentage there is considerable diversity amongst the new plants. Leaf shape varies from very narrow triangular (up to 20 inches x 0.5 inch) to strap-shaped and shorter (12 inches x 1 inch), the broader leaves tending to form a short tube. The margins of the leaves are finely and distantly toothed. Leaf colour varies from uniformly dark green to pale green with random yellow-green spots and some plants show the ability to turn red under conditions of high light and low nitrogen supply.

The inflorescence may be erect or nodding and has scape bracts which vary in colour from pink through salmon to bright red, on different plants. All flowers seen so far have green petals with dark blue borders, the blue border is regarded as a noticeable trait of B. nutans and its hybrids. This hybrid group has been named Billbergia KAHIBAH.

NOTES
1. There were approximately 48 plants in this grex but apparently only three were released. We do not know if the other 45 were destroyed.
2. The seed parent has been traced back to a hybrid now called 'GEM' where one parent was probably B. saundersii and the other parent possibly vaguely B. amoena. Diagnosis given by L. B. Smith in May 1963.
3. The pollen parent was given in 'quotes' because in 1963 it was doubted if the true species B. nutans was in Australia. That doubt continues to this day. July 1990.