Tab. 5647. 



BILLBEEGIA sphacelata. 



Ckupon of Chili 



Xat. Ord. Bkomeliace^;. — Hexanbeia Moxogtnia. 

 Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tab. 5502.) 



Btlebergia sphacelata ; caule brevi robusto, foliis nutnerosis carnoso-cou- 

 gestis 4-5-pedaIibus anguste ensiformi-lanceolatis concavis viridibus 

 remotiuscule spinulosis, floribus in capitulum axillare sessile dense 

 congestis, braeteis subulatis spinuloso-serratis medio sphacelatis, sepal is 

 dimidiato-laneeolatis acuminatis integris v. uno latere 1-dentatis, petalis 

 erectis obtusis basi intus 2-tuberculatis, filamentis breviusculis cotn- 

 pressis, antheris apiculatis, stigmatibus lineari-subulatis vix tortis. 



Brojielia sphacelata. Ruiz et Pav. Prodr. v. 3. p. 32. Gay, Fl. Chili, 

 v. 6. p. 8. 



Greigia sphacelata. Kegel, Gartenflora, v. 14. p. 137. /. 474. 



This very handsome Bromeliaceous plant, conspicuous for 

 its magnificent crown of leaves, each from four to five feet 

 long, flowered in the Royal Gardens, Kew, in October, 1866, 

 from specimens sent by Dr. Kegel from the Imperial Botanic 

 Gardens of St. Petersburg. Though not altogether corre- 

 sponding with the Greigia sphacelata described and figured 

 by Dr. Kegel in the ' Gartenflora,' I can hardly doubt its 

 being that plant, both from its origin and habitat. The diffe- 

 rences are that Regel's plant is represented as having obtuse 

 anthers, whereas in the Kew plant the anthers are strongly 

 mucronate. In Ruiz and Pavon's description the flowers are 

 said to be purple, which is not the case with our plant. 



Billbergia sphacelata is a native of temperate Chili, near 

 Concepcion, in lat. 37° S., where it is called Chupon, and the 

 sweet pulpy fruits, which are greedily eaten by children, are 

 called Chu pones. 



Desck. Stem very short. Leaves numerous, densely 

 crowded, bright green and shining, erecto-patent and recurved, 

 june 1st, 1867. 



