Taz. 8005. 
JECHMEA LAVANDULACEA, 
West Indies. 
BrRoMELIAcCEx. Tribe BROMELIER. 
Acura, Ruiz & Pav.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 663: Baker, 
Handb. Bromel. p. 82; Mez in DC. Monogr. Phan. vol. ix. p. 176. 
4Echmea lavandulacea, C. H. Wright, sp. nov.; species ab iis sectionis 
Platyechmex panicola disticha, spicis non pedunculatis, bracteolis ovato- . 
oblongis lavandulaceis albo-furfuraceis distingnitar. 
Herba acaulis. Folia rosulata, e basi vaginante ligulata, utrinque appresse 
lepidota, circa 18 poll. longa, 1? poll. lata, spinis approximatis tenuibus 
incurvis instructa, marginibus cartilagineis angustis spinisque rubris. 
Panicula disticha, spicis multifloris sessilibus distichis composita; scapa 
circa 14 poll. longa, rosea; bractez scariosa, ovato-oblonge, superiores 
sensim minores, rosez ;-bracteolw late ovato-oblonge, acuminata, virides, 
albo-furfuracew, marginibus scariosis latis lavandulaceis, inferiores apice 
aristate. Sepala ovato-lanceolata, coriacea, aristata, viridia, pilosa, 6 
lin. longa. Petala oblanceolata, mucronata, atroviolacea, 10 lin. longa, 
14 lin. lata prope apicem, squamis albis 23 lin. longis et plicis lanceolatis 
duabus 4 lin. longis instructa. Stamina petala sabequantia; anthers 
oblong, apiculate, dorsifixe ; filamenta compressa, marginibus hyalinis. 
Ovarium pilosum ; stylus filiformis, ramis brevibus spiraliter contortis. 
This plant was discovered by Mr. W. E. Broadway, 
Curator of the Botanic Garden, Grenada, West Indies, on 
rocks overhanging the sea at St. George, in that island. 
In 1895 he forwarded plants to Kew, where they flowered 
in a stove in July last. The species is very distinct, and 
is characterized by the distichous arrangement of the 
panicle-branches and flowers. The broad lavender-coloured 
margins of the bracteoles, resembling in colour the flowers 
of some species of Statice, candied all over with white 
seurf, harmonize with the deep violet petals, and thus 
avoid that sharp contrast in colour so often found in the 
inflorescence of plants of this order. 
Amongst the species allied to the present, A7. pubescens, 
Baker, is distinguished by the leaves being smaller and 
bearing spines, which are recurved, only in the lower part, 
while its bracteoles are shorter, broader, and more abruptly 
acuminate. 1. lingulata, Baker, has the panicle branches 
inserted all round the axis. 4. dichlamydea, Baker, has 
the spikes distichously arranged, but naked in the lower 
three inches. 
Marcu Ist, 1905. 
