HANDBOOK OF BKOMELIACE^. 



Tribe I.— BROMELIE^. 



1. Kakatas (Plum.) A dans. 



Sepals free down to the ovary, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate. 

 Petals united in a distinct tube ; segments lingulate or ovate, not 

 scaled at the base. Stamens inserted in the corolla-tube, not reaching 

 to the tip of the segments ; filaments filiform, inserted near the 

 base or at the middle of the back of the linear anthers. Ovary 

 inferior, 3-celled ; ovules numerous, horizontal ; style long, filiform ; 

 stigmas adpressed, more or less twisted. Fruit baccate. Seeds 

 globose, not appendiculate. — Leaves ensiform, lanceolate, or lorate 

 from a dilated base, margined with large or small prickles. Floivers 

 many, arranged in a dense globose usually sessile capitulum, each 

 subtended by a bract and the shortened inner leaves that surround 

 the capitulum usually bright -coloured. Corolla red, violet, or 

 or white. 



Subgenus Kakatas peoper. — Petals shortly united at the base. 

 Filaments long, inserted at the back of the anther near its base. 

 Leaves long, ensiform, with large pungent marginal spines. 



Capitulum nearly sessile .... Sp. 1-4. 

 Capitulum distinctly peduncled . . . Sp. 5-6. 



Subgenus Nidularium (Lemaire). — Tube of the petals usually as 

 long as the sepals. Filaments short, inserted about the middle of 

 the anther. Leaves shorter and less rigid, with smaller marginal 

 teeth. 



Leaves narrowed to the point ; inner reduced 



leaves not bright red .... Sp. 7-12. 



Leaves narrowed to the point ; inner reduced 



leaves bright red ..... Sp. 13-16. 

 Leaves lorate, obtuse ; inner reduced leaves 



purple, red or brownish . . . . Sp. 17-22. 

 Leaves lorate, obtuse ; inner reduced leaves 



bright red Sp. 23-29. 



Leaves lorate, tipped with red . . . Sp. 30-35. 

 Leaves lorate, tipped with brown . . . Sp. 36. 



