ORDER CXCVIII.—BROMELIACEÆ.
This order includes the Pine Apple (Bromelia Ananas), the American Aloe (Agave americana), Billbergia, the magnificent plant Bonapartea juncea, now called Lyttæa geminiflora, and the curious epiphyte Tillandsia. What we are accustomed to call the fruit of the Pine Apple is, in fact, a fleshy receptacle, like that of the Strawberry, covered with scaly bracts, which are the remains of the fallen flowers. The flowers are blue, and one is produced in each bract; when they fall, the bracts thicken and grow together, and cover the ovaries, which sink into the fleshy part of the receptacle.
ORDER CXCIX.—PONTEDERACEÆ.
Elegant aquatic plants, with kidney-shaped leaves, and spikes or racemes of blue or white flowers. The principal genus is Pontederia.
ORDER CC.—COMMELINEÆ.
This order is principally known in Britain by the Spiderwort (Tradescantia), and the beautiful Commelina cælestis. Both plants have the flowers springing from a tuft of leaves which sheath the stem.
ORDER CCI.—PALMÆ.—THE PALM TRIBE.