PLATE DCXL. 



HELICONIA BIHAT. 



Wiid Plantain Tree, 



CLASS V. ORDER L 

 FENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Five Chives. One Pointal. 



Spatha universalis partialisque. Calyx 0, Co 

 rolla 3-petala. Nectarium 2-phj'Ilum. Cap 

 sula 3-locularis, monosperma. 



ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Spathe common and partial. Empalement none. 

 Blossom 3-petalled. Nectary two-leaved. 

 Capsule 3-celled, one-seeded. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Heliconia foliis ad apicem acutis, spadice 



erecto, radicalibus. Spatha disticha, mul- 



tiflora : nectarii folio superiore trifido. 

 Heliconia Bihai. IVilld. Sp. PL 



Heliconia with leaves pointed at the end, with 

 an upright spadix, radical. Spathe two- 

 sided, with many flowers. The upper leaf 

 of the nectary trifid. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 



1 . The plant in miniature. 



2. A flower. 



3. A blossom spread open. 



4. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified. 



5. A transverse section of the seed-bud. 



This fine species of Heliconia is known by the common appellation of the Wild Plantain Tree, and 

 grows in mountainous boggy places in South America, and also in most of the West India Islands. It 

 is not generally cultivated with us, on account of the room it occupies, its elegant large foliage being 

 but ill adapted to the confinement of the stove. Our figure was made about the middle of April, 

 from a plant in the collection of tlie Countess de Vandes. 



