iT:CHMEA. G3 



leaves. Inflorescence a lax simple usually drooping spike 3-6 in. 

 long, 1^ in. diam. ; flower-bracts very minute, ovate-cuspidate. 

 Calyx with ovary greenish, i in. long ; sepals shorter than the 

 ovary, ovate with a minute cusp. Petals pale lemon-yellow, 

 protruded |-J in. 



Hab. Spread throughout Tropical America, Mazatlan, Mexico, Hahnl 

 Cuba, C. Wright 673 ! 1524 ! Trinidad, Schacht ! Fe7idler 834 ! 835 ! St. 

 Domingo, Eggers, 2374 ! Porto Eico, Sintenis 2133 ! 6040 1 Columbia, Cuming I 

 Guiana, Parker ! Appiin ! Jenman 611 1 Brazil, as far south as Santa Catherina, 

 Commerson ! Burcliell 3150 1 3288 ! Gaudichaud 131 ! Blanchet 2282 ! Glaziou 

 7501 ! 15482! Var. distans Wittm. in Berl. Gartenzeit, 1884. figs. 1, 2, is a form 

 with a lax spike and short broad leaves. jE. Cornui Carriere in Eev. Hort. 

 1885, 36, with coloured figure, is a form with a short dense oblong spike. 



104. M. AUREO-ROSEA Baker. Hoplophytum aui-eo-roseum Anioine 

 in Wien. Gartenzeit, 1881, 1. 1 (M.D.). Billbergia aureo-roseaHoit. 

 Linden. — Leaves few in a utricular rosette, connivent in the lower 

 half foot, lorate from an oblong base, 1^ ft. long, 1-1^ in. broad at 

 the middle, plain green on the face, thinly white-lepidote not 

 banded on the back, deltoid-cuspidate at the tip, the marginal 

 prickles small. Peduncle a foot long, erect, farinose ; upper bract- 

 leaves several, erecto-patent, bright crimson. Flowers in a rather 

 lax erect spike 3-4 in. long ; rachis straight, farinose ; flower-bracts 

 minute. Calyx with ovary, ^ in. long, bright red ; sepals ovate, as 

 as long as the ovary, with a minute oblique cusp. Petals reddish 

 yellow, oblong, shortly protruded. 



Hab. Brazil. Introduced into cultivation by Linden in 1863. Probably a 

 mere variety of nudicaulis. 



105. M. xiPHOPHYLLA Bakcr. — Leaves ensiform, not rigid. If ft. 

 long, under an inch broad at the middle, tapering gradually to a 

 long point ; marginal prickles small, close. Peduncle 5-6 in. long ; 

 bract-leaves elongated ; upper short, lanceolate, erect. Inflores- 

 cence a moderately dense oblong spike 2-3 in. long, 1 in. diam. ; 

 flower-bracts ovate, ^ in. long. Ovary with sepals as long as the 

 bract ; sepals lanceolate, as long as the ovary, with a small mucro. 

 Petal-blade oblong-lanceolate, 1|- in. long. 



Hab. Probably South Brazil. Described from a plant grown in the Berlin 

 Garden in 1839, under the name of Tillandsia or Billbergia coccinea. 



106. M. coMATA Baker in Journ. Bot. 1879, 234. PoiJmava 

 comata Gaudich. Atlas Bonite, t. 116. Hoplophytum comatum 

 Beer, Brom., 140. — Leaves lorate, 2-3 ft. long, 3-4 in. broad at the 

 middle, horny, thinly lepidote on the back, deltoid -cuspidate at the 

 tip, the marginal teeth middle-sized, deltoid-cuspidate, black-tipped. 

 Peduncle a foot long, with scariose imbricated bract-leaves. In- 

 florescence a dense oblong-cylindrical spike 4-5 in. long. 2 in. 

 diam. ; flower-bracts coriaceous, ovate with a pungent brown cusp, 

 the lower an inch long. Calyx with ovary farinose, f in. long ; 

 sepals twisted, ovate-lanceolate with a small brown cusp. Petals 

 shortly protruded. 



Hab. Woods of .South Brazil, Gaudichaud, Glaziou 14337 ! 15485 ! Allied 

 to ^. nudicaulis. 



107. M. SQUARRosA Bakcr. — Leaves ensiform, 3 ft. long, 2 in. 



