Tas. 4715. 
PUYA CuiILensts, 
Chihan Puya. 
Nat. Ord. BroMELIACErR.—HEXANDRIA Monoeynta. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4309.) 
Puya Chilensis; caule elato erecto crasso cicatricato parce ramoso, ramis cras- 
sis tortuoso-defiexis, foliis 3-4-pedalibus e basi dilatata elongato-enisformi- 
bus rigidis glaucescentibus subtus minute albo-furfuraceis canaliculatis sen- 
sim acuminatissimis grosse spinosis spinis subulatis uncinatis, pedunculo 
terminali elongato columnari bracteato, spica ampla composita multibracteata 
multiflora, bracteis pubescenti-hirsutis, floribus plerisque sessilibus, sepalis 
tribus lanceolatis, petalis flavis calyee quadruplo majoribus oblongo-ovatis 
acutis erecto-patentibus, staminibus pistilloque corolla brevioribus. 
Pura Chilensis. Molina, Hist. Chil. p. 170. Schultes, Syst. Veget. v. 7. p. 1235. 
Puya suberosa. Molina, 1. c. p. 153. : 
Pourrerra coarctata. Ruiz et Pav. Fl. Per, v. 8. p. 4. Syst. v. 1. p. 81. 
PrrcarRNta coarctata. Pers, Syn. Pl. v. 1. p. 344. 
ReNEALMIA ramosa lutea. Feuill. v. 3. p. 59. t. 89. 
_ This is one of the most striking of our Bromeliaceous plants, 
cultivated in a cool stove of the Royal Gardens of Kew. It was 
presented to us, a young plant, by the late A. B. Lambert, Esgq., 
who had received it direct from North Chili, brought home by 
_ Mrs. Maria Graham, afterwards Lady Calcott. The stem, or cau- 
_ dex, has now attained a height of four feet, independent of the 
_ leaves, which are from three to four feet in length, spreading in all 
_ directions ; the lower ones being reflexed. ‘These leaves would 
tender the plant admirably suited to the formation of fences, in 
the nature of the spinous margins; for the upper half of the 
leaf has all the spines directed forward towards the apex, pre- 
senting a great obstacle: to intrusion of man or beast in that 
direction; whilst those lower down the leaf (longer and stronger 
too) have their curvature downwards, so that if man or animal 
is so bold as to make his way partially through, the decurved 
spines would prevent his retracing his steps with impunity. — 
MAY Ist, 1853. : 
