116 HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNiA. Bromelia. 



filament. Germ inferior, obliquely linear, three-celled 

 with two vertical rows of ovula in each cell attached 

 • to the partition. Style rather longer than the sta- 

 mina, straight and very stiff. Stigma clavate, perforat- 

 ed, three-lobed, lobes bidentate, and acute. Capsule 

 inferior, linear, oblong, less convex on one side, and the 

 separation marked by two opposite, longitudinal, sharp 

 ridges ; size of a small cucumber, smooth, dark brown, 

 of a hard, tough fibrous texture, three-celled, three-valv- 

 ed, opening from the apex. 6^eeds many, reniforra, in 

 two rows, attached to the inner edge of the partition, each 

 enveloped in its proper, beautiful azure-coloured axil (the 

 robe of Urania.) Perisperm conform to the seed, white, 

 friable. Embryo pointing immediately to the umbilicus 

 of the seed, pure white ; varying its shape from that of a 

 common flask to that of a retort. 



BROMELIA. Schreb.gen. n. 540. 



Calyx three-parted. Petah three, with a nectarial 

 scale at the base of each. Berry superior, three-celled. 



1. B. ananas. Willd. 2. 7. 



Leaves ciliate with spinous points. Spike tufted. 



Kapa-tsjakka. Rheed. Mai. 11. t. 1. and 2. 



Beng. Ananas. 



I do not know that it has been found indigenous in any 

 part of India. Its not being a native of India is supported 

 by the various vernacular names, evidently derived from 

 ananas, as well as by their being no Sanscrit name for so 

 remarkable a plant, A thing which could scarcely have 

 happened if it had been a native of the East Indies. The 

 general flowering time in India is about the beginning of 

 the hot season. 



There is a very beautiful striped-leaved variety of this 

 species found at Malacca. 



