THE PINE-APPLE FAMILY. 



169 



strong fibre, the cleaning and preparation of which forms a 

 native trading occupation. It is known as "Pita thread," 

 and is useful for making ropes, mats, and for many articles 

 of domestic use. 



Probably the most remarkable plant of the family is 

 Fourcroya longcEva, a native of Mexico. Its stem rises 20 — 

 30 feet high, and is 12 inches in diameter, with erect arms 

 or branches near the top, each terminated by a crown of 

 lanceolate, glaucous leaves. The flower-stem rises from the 

 centre of the crown 20 — 30 feet high, bearing numerous pale 

 flowers. It forms a peculiar feature in the landscape, and 

 presents a striking contrast to the modest Snowdrop {Galan- 

 thus nivalis) of this country. 



The Pine -apple Family. 



(BROMELIACEiE.) 



Simple or branched palmids, or solitary or c^spitose peren- 

 nial phyllocorms, many epiphytal. Leaves grass, strap, or 

 sword-like, or variously oblong elliptical, spreading or erect, 

 with their margins imbricated, forming a tube. Flowers in 

 spikes, racemes, panicles, or compact heads ; often with large 

 showy coloured bracts. Calyx tubular or 3-parted. Petals 3, 

 white, pink, or blue. Fruit a dry capsule, or united and suc- 

 ■ culent, as in the pine-apple. 



Nearly 200 species constitute this family ; they are wholly 

 natives of tropical and subtropical America. Tillandsia and 

 Billhergia being epiphytal plants, growing in tufts, the bases 

 of their closely imbricated, sheathing leaves forming reser- 

 voirs which hold water throughout the dry season. 



Pine- apple (^Bromelia ananas). The original country of 

 this is supposed to be Brazil ; it first became known to 

 Europeans about the middle of the 16th century. It 

 now exists in both a cultivated and wild state in all warm 

 parts of America. It was introduced to West Tropical 

 Africa, where it has become naturalized, as also in the warm 



