A DISSERTATION, &c.
Section 1st.
Of Plants which afford Fibres, properly so called.
Caroa, Bromelia variegata:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.—The description is taken from my Centuria of the genera and species of new plants of Pernambuco.
Class, Hexandria:—Order, Monogynia:—Division, Flowers complete.
Gen. Char. Calyx superior and trifid. Corolla tripetalous, with nectariferous scales at the base of each petal. Fruit an umbellate, trilocular berry.
Section 1st. With flowers discrete or separated.
Spec. Char. Leaves ciliate, spiny, stained with transverse green and whitish marks.
Nat. Char. No stem.
Leaves radical and few, (from 3 to 7) from three to six feet long, channelled, revolute and spiny, green in the interior or concave surface, and stained with transverse whitish marks on the exterior or convex surface.
Flowers, The stalk two feet long, flexuose and almost spiral, with alternate scales without thorns; the spike simple, the peduncle or flower stalk short. Bracteæ small, the floral leaves simple, and at the foot of each flower stalk. Calyx monophyllous, with obtuse indentations, trifid, tubular, permanent and erect. Corolla tripetalous, tubular, of a bluish purple colour, oblong, obtuse, erect, with nectariferous scales at the bases; from the middle of each petal to the bottom is a channel which sheaths a single filament of the stamina. Stamina consist of six filaments inserted in the receptacle; of these, three are alternate with, and three are opposite to the petals; of the last the bases run down the grooves in the petals, and fix themselves in the receptacle. Pistil consists of one filiform style, with a single stigma. Pericarp, an oval, pointed berry, somewhat angular and umbellate, nearly of the size of an olive.