NAT. ORDER, 
BromeliacecB. 
BILLBERGIA IRIDIFOLIA. DROOPING BILLBERGIA. 
Class VI. Hexandria. Order I. Monogynia. 
Gen. Char. Calyx, three-parted, tubular, persistent, cohering 
with the ovarium. Petals, three, colored, unequal. Stamens, 
six, inserted into the base of the calyx. 
8pe. Char. Leaves, long, sheathing and spiny. Scape, spicate. 
Flowers, distant, solitary, sessile, inflated. Calyx, superior 
Petals, linear, obtuse, revolute apex. Anthers, versatile. 
The Billbergia iridifolia belongs to the Pine-apple family, 
and hence, is a native of the hot and dry countries of South 
America. The calyx is superior, three-parted, v/ith a single 
bractea ; the petals are three, longer than the sepals, rolled up into 
a tube, and having scaly appendages at the base ; the stamens are 
six, free, and are inserted between the scales at the base of the 
sepals and petals ; the ovary is three-celled, and many-seeded ; the 
ovules are very minute; the s^y/e is thread -shaped ; the stigmas 
are three, linear, and convolute : the capsule is berried ; the seeds, 
(according to Martius,) are naked. Epiphytic plants, (of equi- 
noctial America,) with dry leaves, covered with leprous scales ; • 
xhejlowers are sessile, sometimes spiked, sometimes panicled, and 
manifestly articulated with the rachis ; the leaves are 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 
leprous scales; the scape is spicate, terminal', red, pendulous, flex- 
uose, and clothed with deep red inflated bracteas ; the flowers are 
Vol. ii— 79 
