Tab. 5732. 



PIJYA Whytei. 



Mr. Whyte's Chilian Puya. 



Nat. Ord. Bkomeltace^:. — Hexaitoeia Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Sepala 3, herbacea, eequalia. Fetala 3, obovato-oblonga, 

 basi erecta, supra medium patenti-recurva, basi intus squama aucta, mar- 

 ceseendo spiraliter convoluta. Stamina 6, hypogyna, requalia, filamentis 

 filiformibus ; anthers© oblongre v. lineares, basi 2-fidae. Ovarium libcrum, 

 3-gonum, 3-loculare ; stylus filiformis, stigmatibus 3 spiraliter contortis ; 

 ovula numerosa, in loculis 2-seriata, horizontalia. Capsula cartilaginea, 3- 

 locularis, loculicide 3-valvis, polysperma. Semina compressa.— Herbs 

 America Australis incolce, rupicolce, caule brevi v. elongato apicefolioso. 

 Folia angusta, spinosa. Flores mediocres, in paniculas bracteatas dispositi. 



Puya Whytei ; foliis confertis patenti-recurvis elongato-subulatis remote 

 spinosis spinis inferioribus recurvis, supra concavis viridibus, subtus 

 sparse argentoo-lepidotis, pedunculo valido erecto bracteis recurvis 

 oblongis vestito, panicula erecta pyramidata densiflora, bracteis medns 

 superioribusque integerrimis, petalis obovato-oblongis lunde vires- 

 cente-csDruleis metallicis. 



A superb rock-plant, introduced by Messrs. Veitch from 

 Chili, through Mark Whyte, Esq., an enthusiastic amateur, 

 in whose honour as discoverer it is named at Messrs. Veitch s 

 request. As a species, it is so very similar to the drawing ot 

 jP. ccerulea, in the Botanical Register (1840, t. 11), that it is 

 with great hesitation that I propose another name for it. 

 The most obvious difference, in comparing the plates, will be 

 seen to consist in the colouring of the flowers, and this 1 

 suspect may be due to the colourist; for the most peculiar 

 dull metallic blue shot with green of Messrs. Veitch s plant 

 is so difficult for an artist to seize and represent, that 1 can 

 well conceive Dr. Lindleys colourist to have failed m repro- 

 ducing it. In P. candea the bracts are more serrated, and 

 the petals narrower ; in all other respects they seem identical. 

 P. candea is described as an almost hardy poreimial rock- 

 plant, of a most Striking habit, and very ornamental. / 

 Whytei has proved hardy through last winter, and indeed 

 flowered in the open air. 



OCTOBER 1ST, 1S(JS. 



