That's what I think too. The brown leaf can't turn green again, plant would look better if you take that off, but glad you left it on for the pic to show what's going on. Looks like it has a toxic buildup of something in the soil, likely fluoride, to which this plant is very sensitive. Over time, some tap water can alter the PH of the soil also. Has it ever been repotted? The next time it's dry, I would flush the soil with a gallon of distilled (not bottled drinking water) or rain water if possible. Pour about 1/4 of the gallon on it, wait 15 minutes, pour another quart. Wait 15 minutes, then very slowly pour the last half gallon, all over the surface of the soil, not just in one spot. Then let it dry well before watering again. It likes very bright shade, but not much if any direct sun outside. In the house, some direct sun that's not during the middle of the day should be fine. Come on by the house plant forum if you have further questions or need instructions on repotting, best done during summer.

The leaves are reported to be a foot wide. If they are indeed velvety, I'm going to throw Paulownia into the list of possibilities. It is likely to lose the toothed edges as the tree grows. If Paulownia tomentosa, it is listed as an invasive, noxious weed in much of the south and midwest. Your boyfriend's instincts are right.

Hi bomg, I asked your question and this is the answer I got: The short answer to your question is if your plant has those little nasty black spines/leaves at its base you have got Pitcairnia paniculata. The full technical answer is: Pitcairnia poortmanii is densely serrulate and narrower laxly above, glabrous. Translated = finely serrate or saw edged with smooth glossy leaf. Pitcairnia paniculata is densely fasciculate, dimorphic or trimorphic, the outer leaves reduced, scale-like or some with setiform spinose blades, the inner elongate, contracted above the sheath but not always petiolate, attenuate, remotely spinulose-serrate or entire to apex, glabrous above, sparsely furfuraceous beneath. Translated = compact cluster, 2 - 3 different types of leaves, bristle like, glossy above, scurfy under. In other words if your plant has those little nasty black spines/leaves at its base you have got Pitcairnia paniculata. Dimorphic means two different types of leaves. All the best, Nev.

The leafy one looks like a Senecio. If it has a yello daisy like flower, it is. The spikes one is a Deuterochonia, previously called Abrometiella. Mir is Avery spikey bromeliad, and grows like a succulent rather than like the soft leaved bromeliads.