All the species of Pitcairnia are readily cultivated in 
almost any soil, in a good stove ; but we have observed 
them thrive most-when plunged in the tan-pit, and allowed 
to root through their pots into the tan. 
Differs from Pitcairnia albiflos of Mr. Herbert, in being 
a taller and more robust plant, in having the rachis, pedicels, 
and calyx downy, and especially in the bractew being much 
longer than the pedicels. It is also sweet-scented, which 
P. albiflos is not. The flowers of the latter appear, from 
our wild Brazilian specimens, to assume a corymbose 
appearance, while those of P. swaveolens grow in an elon- 
gated raceme. 
Stem about two feet high, erect, smooth, leafy. Leaves 
all narrowly sword-shaped, very much tapering to the 
point, quite entire, bright green, the lower only being 
mealy beneath, the others quite smooth. Raceme long, 
erect, many-flowered, the rachis, pedicels, and calyx, being 
pubescent. Bractee ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, much 
Jonger than the pedicels. lowers white, sweet-scented. 
Calyx half-superior, turbinate at base, with lanceolate, 
papery sepals, of a pale-green colour, and at least twice as 
short as the corolla., Petals oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, 
twisted to one side, concave, with a kind of galeate appear- 
ance, lying over the stamens, not rolled together into a 
tube, but parallel, with their margins overlapping at the 
base, and having a small lunulate scale between their 
base and the stamens. 
J.L. 
