~\ Tas. 4835. 
BILLBERGIA Weruvere -ti. 
Mr. Wetherell’s Billbergia. 
Nat. Ord. BRoMELIACER.—HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Gen. Char. (Vide supra, Tas. 4756.) 
Brurpereia WVetherelli ; foliis cartilagineis lato-ligulatis obtusis cum acumine 
basi latioribus concavis circumvolutis marginibus obscure spinuloso-serratis, 
seapo foliorum vaginis inclusis, rachi tomentosa spicaque densa exsertis nu- 
tantibus, bracteis universalibus amplis coloratis coccineis, petalis (apice 
purpureis) spathulatis intus versus basin lineis duabus membranaceis sub- 
fimbriatis et ad basin squamis duabus fimbriatis. 
Dr. Lindley has long ago (Bot. Reg. 1827, under Tab. 1068) 
observed that it would be difficult to point out a family of plants 
more interesting from their beauty or singularity than that of 
Bromeliacee ; and we think the two plants of this family, repre- 
sented in our present number, serve to strengthen that remark. 
He further adds, “ of which the systematic arrangement has been 
less carefully studied ;” and he has himself given, /. c., a “ synopsis 
of what he considers the essential characters of the genuine 
genera :” and there, for the first time, we believe, Bil/bergia of 
Thunberg is clearly defined. To this he has referred several 
described Brazilian Bromelias, and Martius has added several 
new ones. None of these however accord with our plant, which 
we lately received from Bahia by favour of James Wetherell, 
Esq., H.M. Vice-Consul at that city. The handsome flower- 
spike was produced in December, 1854. It may rank syste- 
matically near Bromelia iridifolia, Nees et Mart. (Billbergia 
iridifolia, Lindl. Bot. Reg. f. 1068) ; differing however remark- 
ably in the foliage, and no less in the nature of the inflorescence. 
It is an extremely showy species, and easily cultivated in a moist 
stove and not exposed to too powerful light. 
Descr. Leaves all radical, scarcely a foot long in our spe- 
cimens, broad-ligulate, cartilaginous, glabrous and destitute of 
minute scales or scurf, moderately channelled, narrower up- 
FEBRUARY Ist, 1855. 
