322 ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS 



TiLLANDSIA. 



A genus of Bromeliaceous plants, containing many- 

 species remarkable for the beauty of tbeir flowers, but 

 the few kinds here introduced are plants of extreme 

 beauty of leaf, in addition to their floral attraction. These 

 plants should be grown in spongy peat, with the addition 

 of a little loam and sand; they may be increased by 

 suckers and seeds. 



T. argentea. — This very elegant plant succeeds best 

 when grown upon a block. The leaves are arranged in 

 a rosulate manner, sheathing at the base, where they 

 are broad, tapering to a fine point, and clothed with close 

 white hairs, which give the appearance of frosted silver. 

 Native of Trinidad. 



T. Lindsnii. — ^Leaves arranged in a rosulate manner, 

 broad and sheathing at the base, tapering upwards, and 

 ending in a fine point, beautifully recurved, light green 

 on the upper side, suffused with rose underneath, and 

 marked with parallel lines of reddish brown. It bears 

 a handsome broad distichous scape, which is rosy carmine, 

 and the flowers are azure blue, with a pure white eye. 

 It is a most elegant plant, fit for table decoration or for 

 ornamental vases, and should be in every collection of 

 plants, however small. Native of the province of Huanca- 

 l)amba, in Peru. 



T. musaica. — This is a very handsome species. Leaves 

 ligulate in form, recurved at the apex, about one foot in 

 Hength and two inches broad ; ground colour yellowish 

 green, marked in an irregular way with patches of dark 

 green, producing a mosaic appearance. A glance at our 

 illustration will give a better idea of the beauty of this 

 plant than a long description. Native of Colombia. 



