1068 
BILLBERGIA iridifolia. 
Drooping Billbergia. 
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNI4A. 
Nat. ord. BROMELIACER, 
BILLBERGIA Thunb.—Calyzx superus, 3-partitus, unibracteatus. Pe- 
tala 3, sepalis longiora, in tubo conyvoluta, basi squamis appendiculata. 
Stamina 6, libera, basibus sepalorum et petalorum inter squamas inserta. 
Ovarium 3-loculare polyspermum: ovulis minutissimis. Stylus filiformis. 
Stigmata tria, linearia, convoluta. Capsula baccata? Semina (ex Martio) 
nuda. Herbee epiphyte (Americe equinoctialis) foliis siccis lepidotis. 
Flores sesseles, nunc spicati, nunc paniculati, cum rachi manzfeste articulat. 
B. iridifolia ; foliis lanceolato-ensiformibus undulatis acuminatis subspinosis, 
spica pendula multiflora, floribus solitariis, bracteis integerrimis coloratis 
florum longitudine. 
Bromelia iridifolia. Nees et Martius in nov. act. phys. med, Ac. Ces.-Leop.- 
Car, nat. cur. vol. x2. p. 16, 
Folia suprema 14 pedalia, lanceolato-ensiformia, undulata, basibus vagi- 
nantibus presertim spinosa; atro-viridia, inferne purpuracea. Scapus ¢er- 
minalis, folits pauld brevior, corallinus, verosimiliter semper pendulus, brac- 
ters roseis wnflatis vestitus. Flores spicati, distantes, solitarii, in racht angu- 
latd, flexuosd sessiles, bracteis coccineis integerrimis ejusdem longitudinis 
anclust. Calyx superus, 3-phyllus, sepalis ovatis, luteo-viridibus, apice ceru- 
leis, planis, membranaceis, corolld dupld brevioribus. Petala 3, linearia, nm 
tubo convoluta, luteo-viridia, apice cerulea, obtusa, revoluta; basi sqyuamis 
duabus cucullatis jfimbriatis, nectariferis. Stamina 6, basi sepalorum ct 
petalorum inter squamas inserta. Filamenta jiliformia. Anthere versatzles, 
libere. Ovarium inferum, 3-gonwm, glaberrimum, 3-loculare, loculis poly- 
spermis, ovults minutissimis. 
For this truly noble plant we have to render our acknow- 
ledgments to Mrs. Arnold Harrison, by whom specimens 
-and a sketch were most obligingly sent us in March last, 
from her rich collection at Aighburgh, near Liverpool. The 
plant had been received from William Harrison, Esq., of 
Rio Janeiro, where it is found growing on trees. We have 
