Class \ L— HEXANDRIA. 



Order I.— ISIONOGYNIA. 



J Flowers caliculaie, 



S02. TILLANDSIA. /.. (Long-moss.) 



Calix trifid, subconvolute* persistent Corol- 

 la trifid, canipanulate, (or tubulous). Capsule 

 1 to 3. celled. Seed comose. 



Leaves mostly radical, scapes simply spiked or panicu- 

 late. Mostly parasitic plants presenting the habit of Jgave^ 

 vi\^Ioe, or of Bromelia. {\ small section of the genus^ 

 including T. Us?ieoiiles of the United States, presents a 

 filiform and diffusely dichotomous stem with alternate 

 and filiform leprose leaves, accompanied by peduncle* 

 \vhich are 1 or 2-Howered, and a capsule of 1 cell. Scarcely 

 congeners with those splendid species of the tropics, 

 which depending for parasitic nourishment on the boughs 

 and trunks of trees, have their leaves convolutely im- 

 bricated so as to retain as in a vase supplies of water 

 v»hich endure for several days together; these produce 

 scapes of flowers of the most diversified and vivid colours, 

 comniunicating an incidental splendour to the sombre 

 forests in which they are indigenous.) 



§ 2. SrREPsiA.f Calix double, exterior (bractes?) 2- 

 leaved, interior 3-rleft. C.ipsule l-celled, 3-valved, about 

 9-5eeded — Stems hliti>rni and dichotomous; flowers soli- 

 tary, or by pairs. 



Species. 1. T.^'ecirrvata. -}-■ 2. Usneoides. Obs. Root 

 evanescent. Stem filiform, elastic, diffusely dichotomous, 

 pendulous (from tiie branches of trees) intorted, hoary 

 and furfuracenusly squamose. Leaves filiform, subsemi- 

 cyLndvic, curved, covered with a pubescence similar to 

 that of the stem. Flowers inconspicuous. Capside linear, 

 3 sided. Seeds comose, pendulous — The presence of this 

 plant generally indicates an atmosphere of extraordinary 

 and tmiiealtjiy moisture- Mr. Pursh states its northern 

 limits to be the borders of the Dismal Swamp in Virginia. 

 Cross iig North Carolina and proceeding towards Charles- 

 ton, I have observed its western limits, in this direciion, 



•j-From ^pe<p*i>, I ttim, or twsi,m allusion to it-s conlortfiil 

 appearance. 



