35 



BILLBERGIA IRIDIFOLIA. 



(Iris-leaved, or drooping Billbergia.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. _ NATURAL ORDER. 



No. 105. 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNI A. BROMELIACE^E. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Billbergia. (Thunb.) Calyx superus, 3-partitus, unibracteatus. Petala 3, sepalis longiora, 

 in tubo convoluta, basi squamis appendiculata. Stamina 6, libera, basibns sepalorum et peta- 

 lorum inter squamas inserta. Ovarium 3-loculare polyspermum : ovulis minutissimis. Stylus 

 filiformis. Stigmata 3, linearia, convoluta. Capsula baccata 1 Semina (ex Martio) nuda. 

 Herbse epiphytes (America? aequinoctialis) foliis siccis lepidotis. Flores sessiles, nunc spicati 

 nunc paniculati, cum rachi manifeste articulati. (Lindley.) 



Calyx superior, 3-parted, with a single bractea. Petals 3, longer than the sepals, rolled up 

 into a tube, and having scaly appendages at the base. Stamens 6, free, inserted between scales 

 at the base of the sepals and petals. Ovary 3-celled, many-seeded : ovules very minute. Style 

 thread-shaped. Stigmas 3, linear, convolute. Capsule berried ? Seeds (according to Martius) 

 naked. Epiphytic plants (of equinoctial America) with dry leaves, covered with leprous scales. 

 Flowers sessile, sometimes spiked, sometimes panicled, manifestly articulated with the rachis. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



B. iridifolia ; foliis lanceolato-ensiformibus undulatis acuminatis subspinosis ; spied pendula 

 multiflora ; floribus solitaries ; bracteis integerrimis coloratis florum longitudine. 



Leaves lanceolate-ensiform, undulate, acuminate, somewhat spinous ; spike pendulous, many- 

 flowered ; flowers solitary ; bracteas very entire, coloured, the length of the flowers. 



Billbergia iridifolia. — Lindl. Bot. Reg. vol. xiii. 



Bromelia iridifolia. — Nees et Martius. 



Desck. — Leaves from a foot to a foot and a half long, sheathing and spiny towards the base, 

 the upper surface of a dark rich green, and covered beneath with white leprous scales. Scape 

 spicate, terminal, red, pendulous, flexuose, clothed with deep red, inflated bracteas. Flowers 

 distant, solitary, sessile, half invested by the rich, red, inflated bracteas. Calyx superior ; divi- 

 sions ovate-oblong, membranaceous, of a yellowish green, tipped with blue, scarcely half as long- 

 as the corolla. Petals linear, yellowish green, with a blue, obtuse, revolute apex ; having at the 

 base two fimbriated, nectariferous scales. Anthers versatile. Ovary inferior, smooth, 3-cornered, 

 3-celled. 



This plant, which is no less singular than beautiful in its appearance, was 

 introduced to this country severaly ears ago, but is by no means common in 



