I think hard grown marmoratas will get that color. My Neo Inca can look just like that at times.

What was the other parent, Andrew?

There have been plenty of crosses between concentrica types and marmorates resulting in purplish marmoration, so that in itself is not so unusual, but some are better than others. Your plant shows wide leaves and compact form, emarginate tips, and the darker older leaves give it a fairly finished look, all of which are good things. It would be easier to evaluate its relative merits if it were in better condition, but I'd put it in the "keeper" group.

Lisa, can you give me the names of a couple of the better plants with purple marmoration? IÂd just like to look them upÂif I can get into FCBS database ;-(Âand see how they compare. As you say there are plenty of concentrica / marmorated hybridsÂbut I just canÂt picture any.

The other parent would best be described as Neoregelia hybrid ;-). It was purchased from a local brom nursery that specialises in landscape broms, & was selected due to its good form, nice deep brick red colour with fine spotting. I used Prosperpinae as the mother plant, & the marmorated hybrid as pollen parent based on the theory of the mother plant giving size & form, with the pollen parent adding colour.

Here are some more of the hybrids out of that grex. They are now just over 5 yrs on from seed, & these few were selected out of the batch a couple of years ago, as they showed good form, with nice wide leaves, & that concentrica leaf tip, which is a feature I like.

This is probably closest to the pollen parent.

{{gwi:517100}}

Another showing nice compact form.

{{gwi:517101}}

And this one is developing a nice bright centre flush as it comes into flower, so looks like itÂs held its spot in with the keepers.

{{gwi:517102}}

Fairy Tale and Africa are two that come immediately to mind, Andrew.

Hi Andrew and Lisa

My fav purpully Neo is Sun Valley....

I like your second pink number!

Dennis