Calyx triphyllus, semisuperus. Petala 3. Squama nectarifera ad basin petalorum. Stigmata tria contorta. Capsula tria, introrsum dehiscentes. Semina alata.
Empalement three-leaved, half superior. Petals three; with a scaly honey-cup at the base of the petals. Three summits twisted. Three capsules, splitting from the inside. Seeds winged.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Pitcairnia foliis integerrimis, basi subspinosis.
Pitcairnia with leaves quite entire, rather spiney at the base.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. One of the Petals, with its scale at the base.
3. The Chives and Pointal, cleared from the Petals.
4. The Pointal, the Summits detached, magnified.
5. The Seed-bud, cut transversely.
The species of Pitcairnia here figured is a native of Jamaica, and was first introduced to Britain by Mr. A. Anderson, in the year 1785. It does not flower so readily as some of the other species, but is equally easy to increase; flourishes in rich earth, and may be kept on a shelf of the hot-house until its flower-stem appears; when, to encourage its flowering, it should be plunged in the bark-bed.—Our drawing was made, in the month of July, from a plant in the Collection of J. Vere, Esquire, Kensington Gore.[Pg 69]
