190 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Billardiera continued. 



free-growing and profuse-flowering species. SYN. B. ovalis. See 



Fig. 261. (B. M. 1507.) 



FIG. 251. FRUITING PORTION OK BILLARDIERA LONGI FLORA. 



B. mutabilis (changeable). A synonym of B. scandens. 

 B. ovalis (oval-leaved). A synonym of D. longiflora. 

 B. scandens (climbing).* fl. cream-coloured, at length purplish, 

 solitary ; pedicels same length as the flower. June to September. 

 I. lanceolate-linear, entire. Branches, when young, villous. New 

 Holland, 1795. SYNS. B. mutabilis, B. angtisttfolia. (B. M. 1313.) 

 BILLBERGIA (named after J. G. Billberg, a Swedish 

 botanist). ORD. Bromeliacece. A genus of handsome stove 

 plants. Flowers borne on light panicles ; calyx three- 

 parted ; corolla of three convolute petals, scaly at the base ; 

 stamens inserted into the base of the perianth. Leaves 

 harsh, rigid. These require much the same treatment as 

 recommended for Mchmea. The most suitable soil is a 

 mixture of peat, leaf soil, and loam in about equal parts, 

 to which is added some sharp sand, to keep it open and 

 porous. Free and perfect drainage is absolutely neces- 

 sary for the successful culture of this class of plants, and 

 a layer of moss should be placed over the crocks previous 

 to filling the pots with soil. Although fond of heat, 

 Billbergias will, when in flower, bear removal to a cooler 

 house than a stove; and, if they are kept a little dry at 

 the same time, the change will greatly prolong their 

 flowering period. The stronger growing kinds thrive well 

 in rich, well-drained loam and leaf mould. Propagation 

 is effected by carefully taking off the suckers which 

 form at the base, after the plants have done flowering ; 

 but, before doing this, they should be allowed to attain 

 a good size. The suckers grow quickly when attached to 

 the parent stem, from which they derive their strength, 

 and feel the check less when severed ; besides which, they 

 become more mature, and are in better condition for root- 

 ing. The best method to adopt is as follows: Take the 

 sucker in the hand and gently twist it off the stem ; next 

 trim the base by the removal of a few of the lower 

 leaves, and then insert each sucker separately in a small 

 pot, in sharp soil. A bottom heat of about SOdeg. 

 will greatly facilitate new root-growth ; failing this, 

 they will root freely in the temperature of a stove if 

 placed in a shaded position for two or three weeks, 

 after which they will bear increased light and sunshine 

 during the later part the day. See also JEclimea and 

 Androlepis. 



Billbergia continued. 



B. amoena (pleasing). /. greenish-white, tipped with blue, 

 loosely panicled ; bracts rose-coloured. July to winter. I. ligu- 

 late, abruptly acuminate, slightly spiny, h. 2ft. Brazil, 1817. 

 (B. R. 344.) 



J. Baraquiniana (Baraquin's).* fl. green; spikes long, the 

 upper portion pendulous, bearing four or five large, oblong-lanceo- 

 late, bright scarlet bracts at the base of the flowers ; the stem 

 above the bracts is hoary white. Early spring. I. ligulate, taper- 

 ing to a point, where, as well as at the edges, they are armed with 

 sharp reddish spines, arched, transversely variegated with white 

 scurfy bars. A. lift. Brazil, 1865. (I. H. 1864, 421.) 



B. chlorostlcta (green-spotted). Synonymous with B. Saundersii. 



B. iridifolia (Iris-leaved).* fl. red and yellow, tipped with blue, 

 in drooping spikes ; rachis and bracts crimson. March. I. lanceo- 

 late, ensiforin, lift., grey beneath, h. 1ft. Rio Janeiro, 1825. 

 (B. R. 1068.) 



B. Liboniana (Libon's).* fl., outer perianth segments beautiful 

 coral red, about half as long as the inner ones, which are whitish 

 at the base, and a splendid purple upwards. Winter. I. in a 

 dense rosette, h. 1ft. Brazil, 1858. (B. M. 5090.) 



B. Lietzei (Lietz's).* fl. in loose terminal racemes, each sub- 

 tended by lanceolate pink bracts ; sepals rosy pink, half as long 

 as the greenish corolla. 1. tufted, ligulate, acute ; margin spiny. 

 Brazil, 1881. A double-flowered variety, with petaloid stamens, 

 is mentioned by M. Morren, which is interesting in being ^ 

 first double-flowered Brouieliad yet recorded. (B. H. 1881 



B. marmorata (marbled).* fl. deep blue ; calyces green, tipped 

 with blue ; bracts very large, leafy, oblong, bright scarlet ; panicles 

 erect, branched, much longer than the leaves. I. broadly ligulate, 

 sheathing at the base, truncate-mucronate at the apex I edges 

 very regularly toothed, deep green, freely blotched and barred 

 with dull reddish-brown. (I. H. 2, 48.) 



B. Moreli (Morel's).* ft., sepals red, densely woolly, less than 

 half as long as the purplish-violet petals ; spike dense, drooping ; 

 bracts large, deep rosy red, much longer than the solitary sessile 

 flowers. February. I. arching, lanceolate, shining green on both 

 surfaces ; marginal spines few and weak. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1848. 

 An excellent basket plant. SYN. B. Moreliana. (B. H. 1873, 1, 2.) 



B. Moreliana (Morel's). Synonymous with B. Moreli. 



ing t 

 , 97.) 



the 



FIG. 252. FLOWERS OP BII.LBEROIA NUTANS. 



B. nntans (nodding). /., sepals reddish ; petals yerlowish-green, 

 both with a blue margin ; scapes slender, nodding, with a few 

 large rosy bracts, terminating in a short drooping spike. Winter. 

 1. numerous, long, narrow, ensiform, remotely spiny, h. lift. 

 Brazil, 1868. See Fig. 252. (B. M. 6423.) 



B. pallescens (pallid), fl. greenish-white ; ovary deeply grooved ; 

 spike pendulous; bracts lanceolate, of a beautiful rose-pink. 

 Winter. L dark green, and spotted on the upper surface, paler 



