766 



V. BEOMELIACE^. 



The petioles of Bananas, and especially those of the Abaca {Mma textilis), are formed of very 

 tenacious fibres, of which the natives make thread and textile fabrics ; they also use the blade of the leaves 

 to cover their huts. JRavenala madagascarienm is the finest species of the family ; its popular name of 

 Traveller's-tree is due to the reservoir formed by the leaf-sheaths, in which a limpid and fresh water 

 collects, which may be obtained by piercing the base of the petiole [probably the rain-water which falls 

 on the blade and is conducted by the grooved midrib to the sheathing petiole]. The inhabitants of 

 Madagascar cook its bruised seeds with milk, and prepare a broth from them ; the pulpy aril of the seed, 

 remarkable for its magnificent blue colour, yields an abundant volatile oil. The juice of Musa Ensete is 

 considered in Abyssinia a strong diaphoretic [the succulent interior of the stem is eaten ; not the fruit, 

 which is small, dry, and fuU of very large seeds]. 



V. BROMELIACEJS. 



(Bromelie^, A,-L. de Jussieu, — Bromeliage^, Lindl, — Bromeli-^ et Tillandsi^, 



Adr, Jussieu,) 



Flowers 5 . Perianth S-merous^ 2-seriate, the exterior calycoid, the inner 

 petaloid. Stamens 6, epigynouSy perigynous or hypogynous. Ovary inferior or semi- 

 inferior or superior, S-celled. Berrt indehiscent, or capsule 3-valved, Seeds alhu- 



Pine-apple. 

 Biagram. 



Fine-apple. 



Flower cut vertically 

 (mag.). 



Pine-apple. (Ananassa sativa.) 

 "" " 3 terminated by a crown of 



Dyckia r&motiflora. 

 Pruit. 



Pine-apple, 



Transverse section of 

 ovary. 



Pine-apple. 

 Vertical section of ovule. 



Pine-apple. 

 ■ Flower. 



Pine- apple. 

 Fetal and stamen. 



Pine- apple. 

 Calyx and pistil. 



DycMa, 

 Vertical section of seed (mag.). 



Dyclda, 



Seminiferous valve ; discoid 



seeds. 



