jECHMEA fulgens. 
(Brilliant-flowered iEchmea.) 
Class. 
HEXAND11IA. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
BROM ELI ACE^E. 
Generic Character — Bractcce five, connate into a 
cup. Calyx superior. Petals convolute, distinct, scaly 
at the base. Stamens inserted in the base of the perianth. 
Style filiform. Stigma linear, convolute. Capsule a 
berry. Seed naked. 
Specific Character.— Plant an herbaceous perennial, 
probably somewhat epiphytal. Leaves clasping each 
other at the base, somewhat sword-shaped, terminating 
rather abruptly, a little pointed, with small prickly 
serratures along the margins. Spike of flowers short, 
stout, erect, with a rich scarlet stalk, a little branched. 
Flowers oval-shaped, deep scarlet, blue at the summit. 
This showy plant, which is probably one of the finest and best of the Brome- 
liaceous order, was introduced to the Garden of Plants, at Paris, by M. Eugene 
Melinon, who obtained it, we believe, at Cayenne, in South America, where he 
was curator of some public garden. It was brought from Paris to the collection of 
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth, by the same individual, in the 
spring of 1842, at which time it was in flower ; and from that plant our artist 
made the drawing now given. 
It has not since bloomed at Chatsworth, but from shoots which it is now 
producing, blossoms are again expected during the present month (September). 
It is not so straggling as many plants of this class ; and the flower-spikes are 
more compact than usual, while the flowers possess the brilliant colours common 
to many Bromeliaceas, besides being of a greater size. Scarlet and blue, both very 
deep and rich, are the principal tints in them. 
Beyond its more pleasing proportions, however, and showier inflorescence, it 
promises to be a more manageable plant than most of its allies in point of culture, 
appearing to bloom with considerable freedom. It grows vigorously in a light and 
sandy, yet rather rich soil ; and a compost of open loam and leaf mould, in equal 
proportions, would doubtless be very suitable. It is necessary to water it very 
sparingly when in a torpid state ; though it requires a tolerable share of fluid while 
growing, and should be freely syringed. The best way of treating it, in the 
summer, is, most likely, to plunge the pot containing it in a bark or dung bed, 
supplied with bottom heat. 
