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TILLANDSIA aloifolia. 
Aloe-leaved Ttllandsia, 
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.— Nat. Ord. BROMELIACEm. 
Gent. Char. — Calyx tripartitus, inferus. Corolla tripartita. Capmla tri- 
valvis. Semina papposa. 
TilLandsia aloifolia ; foliis e basi lato lanceolatis concavis longe acumi- 
natis rigidis squamuloso-farinaceis, spiraliter tortis obscure-fasciatis, 
caule superne aphyllo diviso flexuoso, floribus remotis distichis, 
corolla (rosea) calyce duplo breviore, staminibus exsertis. 
Parasitic. Roots fibrous, thickish. Stems 1 1 to 2 feet high, below imbri- 
cated with several spirally twisted leaves ; of these the outermost may 
be called ovate and acute ; the rest from a broadly lanceolate, concave 
base, become gradually attenuated into long pungent points. The very 
uppermost gradually pass into sheathing bracteae. All are of a thickish 
rigid texture, bluish-green, obscurely marked with transverse waved 
striae or bands of a deeper colour, and everywhere densely clothed with 
minute farinaceous scales. The stem terminates in a slightly branched 
leafless zig-zag panicle, having sheathing bracteee at the base of every 
division, and another similar one more than half enveloping each flower, 
farinaceo-squamose. Flowers distant, solitary upon the jointed canali- 
culated rachis. Calyx of 3 lanceolate, concave, tough and membrana- 
ceous segments ; spirally imbricated into a tube, which firmly envelopes 
more than the lower half of the corolla. Corolla cut to the base into 3 
closely placed, linear-lanceolate, erect, rose-coloured segments ; recurved 
at the extremity. Stamens 6, longer than the corolla. Filaments red- 
dish. Anthers fixed by the centre of the back to the filaments; pollen 
yellow. Pistil longer than the filaments. Germen ovato-lanceolate, 
3-lobed. Style filiform. Stigma trifid, each lobe dilated at the extre- 
mity. 
Keceived at the Glasgow Botanic Garden from the Island 
of Trinidad, whence it was sent by the late Baron De Schack. 
Having been planted in common soil, rather as a means of 
support to it, than for the sake of affording nourishment, and 
VOL. III. 
