768 V. BROMELIACE^E. 



or superior, 6-partite, 2-seriate ; outer segments (calyx] herbaceous, the 2 posterior 

 usually coherent, the third anterior, sometimes shorter, imbricate or rarely valvate 

 in aestivation; inner segments petaloid (corolla], more or less coherent, usually 

 furnished within at the base with a scale or nectariferous crest, spirally twisted in 

 aestivation, or rarely valvate, marcescent, and again twisted in age. STAMENS 6, 

 epigynous, perigynous, or hypogynous ; filaments subulate, usually dilated at the 

 base, free or connate, and more or less adnate to the inner perianth-segments ; 

 anthers introrse, 2-celled, basi- or dorsi-fixed, erect or incumbent, dehiscence longi- 

 tudinal. OVARY either completely superior (Dyckia], or semi-inferior (Pitcaimia], 

 or inferior (Ananassa, Billbergia, &c.), 3-celled ; style simple, 3-gonous, sometimes 

 3-partite ; stigmas 3, simple, or rarely 2-fid, sometimes fleshy or petaloid, straight, 

 or spirally twisted ; ovules anatropous, numerous, 2-seriate at the inner angle of the 

 cells, horizontal or ascending, rarely definite and pendulous from the top of the 

 central .ingle (Ananassa]. FRUIT a 3-celled berry or a septicidally 3-valved capsule, 

 rarely loculicidal, endocarp usually separable. SEEDS usually numerous, oblong 

 (Guzmannia, Brocckinia], or linear (Pitcaimia, Tillandsia], or ovoid (Bromelia, Bill- 

 bergia], or discoid (Dyckia]', testa cellular (Pitcaimia], or fleshy (Ananassa, Billbergia], 

 or suberose (Dyckia), or silky (Tillandsia], often obtusely acuminate at both ends; 

 albumen farinaceous. EMBRYO placed outside the albumen, straight or hooked, 

 radicular end near the hilum. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



'Ananassa, Billbergia. * Tillandsia. *Guzmannia. 



* Bromelia. * Acanthostachys. * Quesnelia. * Dyckia. 



* JSchtnea. * Pitcaimia. * Caraguata. Pourretia. 



Bronicliaccee, in being epigynous, perigynous or hypogynous, are intermediate between Monocotyledons 

 with a free, and those with an adherent ovary. Brongniart has placed them in the class of Tontederiacece, 

 which they approach in the herbaceous stem, sheathing radical leaves, flowers in a spike or raceme, 

 bracteate 2-seriate perianth, superior or semi-adherent 3-celled ovary, loculicidally 3-valved capsule, and 

 farinaceous albumen ; but r<mte(1criacca> /are separated by their completely petaloid perianth, the 

 ovary-cells either unequal or reduced to one, the solitary ovule pendulous from the top of the fertile cell, 

 and the axile and included embryo. On the other hand, Bromcliaceat are near Iteemodoracecc, which 

 differ in their equitnnt distichpua leaves, their wholly petaloid perianth, their stamens, of which three 

 only are fertile, their.undivided stigma, their not farinaceous albumen, &c. 



Bromeliacca are all American, where most are epiphytes in tropical forests ; they are much rarer 

 in hot extra-tropical regions. 



The fruit of the baccate Bromeliacea contains citric and malic acids, to which it owes astringent 

 medicinal properties. The ripe berries of some abound in sugar, which gives them an exquisite 

 flavour. The Pine-apple (Ananassa), the most important species, has been introduced into Asia and 

 Africa. The fruit consists of a dense spike of connate fleshy berries and bracts, forming together an 

 ovoid or sub-globose syncarpous compound fruit, which is seedless through cultivation, and crowned by 

 a tuft of leaves. When ripe it is full of an acidulous perfumed sugary juice, and is considered one 

 of the most delicate of fruits; but when unripe the juice is acid and acrid, and much es.teeir.ed 

 in the Antilles as a vermifuge and diuretic. Bromelia Pinguin and several other species possess the 

 same properties,. Tillandfia wmeoiclcs [a very slender filamentous, much-branched species that hangs in 

 hair-like masses from trees in the North-west Indies and southern tlnited States] is used in America 

 in the preparation of an ointment used in cases of haemorrhage ; its fragile and very long stems, deprived 

 of their outer parenhyma, are employed for stuffing mattresses, under the name of ' vegetable hair;' they 

 are also remarkable for having no spiral vessels. Bittbergia tinctoria yields a yellow colouring matter, and 

 the Pine-apple leaf an extremely beautiful silky fibre. 



