NAT. ORDER 



Bromeliacece. 



BILLBERGIA IRIDIFOLIA. DROOPING BILLBERGIA. 



Class VI. Hexandria. Order I. Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Cahjx, three-parted, tubular, persistent, cohering 



with the ovarium. Petals, three, colored, unequal. Stamens, 



six, inserted into the base of the calyx. 

 Spe. Char. Leaves, long, sheathing and spiny. Scape, spicate. 



Flowers, distant, solitary, sessile, inflated. Caly.v, superior 



Petals, linear, obtuse, revolute apex. Anthers, versatile. 



The Billbergia iridifoUa belongs to the Pine-apple family, 

 and hence, is a native of the hot and dry countries of South 

 America. The calyx is superior, three-parted, with a single 

 bractea; the petals are three, longer than the sepals, rolled up into 

 a tube, and having scaly appendages at the base ; the sta?ne?is are 

 six, free, and are inserted between the scales at the base of the 

 sepals and petals ; the ovary is three-celled, and many-seeded ; the 

 ovules are very minute; the 5^y/e is thread -shaped ; the stigmas 

 are three, linear, and convolute : the capsule is berried ; the seeds, 

 (according to Martius,) are naked. Epiphytic plants, (of equi- 

 noctial America,) with dry leaves, covered with leprous scales ; 

 \h.eJloicers are sessile, sometimes spiked, sometimes paniclcd, and 

 manifestly articulated with the rachis ; the leaves are from a foot 

 to a foot and a half long, sheathing and spiny towards the base, 

 the upper surface of a dark rich green, and covered beneath with 

 leprous scales; the scape is spicate, terminal, red, pendulous, flex- 

 uose, and clothed with deep red inflated bracteas ; the jlowers are 



Vol. ii— 79 



