Tas. 8410. 
PITCAIRNIA TABULAFFORMIS. 
ee 
Mexico. 
BBoMELIACEAE. Tribe PrTcAIRNIBAE. 
Pircarrntia, L’ Hérit.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen, Plant. vol. iii. p. 665; Mez in DC 
Monogr. Phan. vol. ix. p. 844. 
Pitecairnia tabulaeformis, Linden, Catal. 1862, p. 5; EH. Morren in Belg. 
Hortic. 1862, p. 257, cum ic.; Lemaire in Tilustr. Hortic. vol. ix. (1862), t. 344; 
Flor, Maq. vol. v. t. 297; Baker, Handb. Bromel. p. 109; Mezin DC. Monogr. 
Phan. vol. ix. p. 447; species P. heterophyllae, Beer, affinis, quae foliis hetero- 
morphis, exterioribus a basi late ovato subulatis 5 cm. longis marginibus 
spinosis, interioribus linearibus inermibus recedit. 
Herba subacaulis. Folia rosulata, patentia, sublanceolata, acuta, 12 cm. longa, 
3 cm. lata, superiora sensim minora, glabra, supra pseudovelutina, in- 
tegerrima, undulata, anguste albomarginata, translucentia, nervis pluribus 
tenuibus praedita. Inflorescentia ante anthesin strobiliformis, demum 
breviter racemosa, multiflora; bracteae ovatae, virides; bracteolae oblongae, 
2-5 em. longae, lacteae, apice rubro-tinctae. Sepala 1°7 cm. longa, 
oblonga, acuminata, obscure lactea. Petala 5 cm. longa, lineari-ligulata, 
basi squamulata, aurantiaca. Stamina inclusa, antheris sub-agittatis. 
Ovarium conicnm, trigonnm; stylus breviter exsertus; stigma trilobum, 
spiraliter contortum.—C. H. Wricurt. 
The Pitcairnia here figured is one of the most distinct 
and decorative members of the genus. It is now an old 
garden plant; it was first exhibited by Mr. Linden in 1861 
or 1862; his plants had been sent from Chiapas in Mexico 
by Mr. Ghiesbreght. P. tabulaeformis differs from every 
other known species except P. heterophylla, Beer, figured 
at t. 4591 of this work under the name P. exscapa, Hook. f., 
in having a congested somewhat capitate inflorescence. 
But our species is readily distinguished from P. heterophylla, 
which has dimorphic leaves, the inner being linear and 
grass-like, the outer much shorter and densely spiny along 
the margins, by having leaves that are uniform and devoid 
of marginal spines. The petals in our plant are spirally 
twisted, but in such a manner as to reach different levels and 
so to impart to the flower a zygomorphic appearance. In 
cultivation P. tabulaeformis is easy of management; it does 
well when grown under tropical conditions in a peaty soil 
with an abundant supply of moisture. It ripens seed freely, 
December, 1911. 
