*b HANDBOOK OF THE BROMELIACEjE. 



where the petals cohere just at the base. Mr. Baker's second 

 group is characterised by petals free or joined only at the very 

 base, and is again subdivided iuto two, the first group with sepals 

 united into a distinct tube, the second with sepals nearly or quite free. 

 The former corresponds to the second division of the ' Genera 

 Plantarum,' the latter to the third, with the exception that Rhodo- 

 stachys, the last genus in the second division, appears in Mr. Baker's 

 last division, where we also find Streptocalyx and Bromelia. Thus 

 the difference between the two arrangements depends entirely on 

 the value given to a very slight coherence of the petals or sepals, 

 and whether plants where such obtains are mostly related to those 

 with quite free or distinctly coherent floral leaves. 



The new arrangement gives the first group an additional char- 

 acter in the well-marked capitular inflorescence, whereas Bromelia 

 has a dense panicle and Streptocalyx a raceme. Moreover, Strejito- 

 calyx \b thus placed nearer the closely allied Portea, from which, 

 "it differs mainly by its ovate sepals united into a distinct cup 

 above the ovary." 



Two new genera are established, Bistiacanthus and Fernseea. 

 Bistiacantlms comprises two cultivated plants introduced by Linden, 

 allied to Karatas and Greiyia. Fernseea is a new genus of one 

 species, " differing from Bromelia by its inflorescence, bract-like 

 stem-leaves, calyx cupular above the ovary, and long, much-con- 

 torted stigmas, named after the late Baron Wawra von Fernsee, 

 who has collected and carefully described and figured this and 

 many other of the most interesting Brazilian Bromeliacea.'" The 

 examination of actual specimens has led to the confirmation of 

 Kegel's genus Ortyiesia, which Bentham had not seen, and Klotzsch's 

 genus Acanthostachys, both sunk in the ' Genera.' 



Wittmack's tribe Bromeliea is identical with Mr. Baker's and 

 that of the ' Genera,' but the ' Handbook ' has 19 genera, while 

 Wittmack makes 26. The higher number is obtained by separating 

 as genera, groups which Mr. Baker considers^only of subgeueric 

 value, viz., Nididarium (Lemaire) from Karatas, and Poihuava, 

 Lamprococcus, and several others from Mehmea. 



The second tribe, Pitcairniea;, contains the new monotypic genus 

 Bakeria, "intermediate between Brocchinia and Gottendorfia. u It 

 was founded by M. Andre, in the ' Bevue Horticule,' 1889 (p. 84), 

 on a plant flowered at Le Fresne, in May, 1888, probably from 

 Brazil. All workers at Bromeliads will appreciate the dedication. 

 The genus Cottendorjia Schultes fil., is restored and enlarged by 

 two new species of Baker and one of Brongniart, making six in all. 

 On the other hand, Encholirion Mart., which in the ' Genera 

 Plantarum' embraces Prionophyllium Koch, is now merged in 

 Dyckia, Prionophyllium and Encholirion forming two subgenera. 

 As stated above, Wittmack splits up the tribe into Pitcairniea, 

 including Brocchinia and Pitcaimia, and Puyea, containing Puya, 

 Encholirion, and Hechtia. 



In Tribe III., TUlandsiem, Schhimheryeria becomes a subgenus of 

 Caraguata ; in the ' Genera Plantarum ' it is queried, with the 

 remark, " Omnia Garayuatce nisi infloresceutia laxior ramosa." It 



