BRACTEATE. Having bracts.
BRACTEOLATE. Having secondary bracts between the true bracts and the flowers.
BRACTS. Modified leaves placed near the calyx on the peduncle or pedicel.
BRAHEA (named after Tycho Brahe, the celebrated astronomer). ORD. Palmeæ. A small genus of dwarf palms, with fan-shaped leaves, and hermaphrodite, greenish flowers. They require rich light loam and fibrous peat, in equal parts, to which may be added a good portion of washed sand; thorough drainage and liberal supplies of water are also absolutely necessary. Propagated by seeds. During summer, they may be removed to the greenhouse, and can be employed with much success for sub-tropical gardening.
B. dulcis (sweet).* l. nearly circular, bright shining green; petioles clothed with woolly tomentum, armed at the edges with small close-set spines, and enveloped at the base in a network of brown fibre. Stem stout. Mexico, 1865. A rare and slow developing species.
B. filamentosa (filamentose). A synonym of Washingtonia filifera.
BRAINEA (commemorative of C. J. Braine, Esq., of Hong Kong, China). ORD. Filices. Sori continuous along transverse veins, near the midrib, and also produced along the veins in the direction of the edge of the frond.
B. insignis (remarkable), which is the only species, has a trunk 3in. to 4in. thick; scales linear, nearly 1in. long. sti. firm, 3in. to 4in. long, scaly only at the base. fronds 2ft to 3ft. long, 8in. to 12in. broad, simply pinnate; pinnæ close, numerous, linear, finely serrated. Hong Kong, 1856. A very handsome and interesting greenhouse tree fern, requiring a soil of loam and peat, in equal parts, with the addition of some sharp sand, and thorough drainage.
BRAMBLE. See Rubus.
BRASSAVOLA (named in honour of A. M. Brassavola, a Venetian botanist). ORD. Orchideæ. A genus of epiphytal orchids, requiring the heat of an intermediate house. Flowers large, usually with narrow acuminate greenish petals and sepals, and a white lip, which is sometimes broad; column having a pair of great falcate ears on each side of the front, and eight pollen masses. Leaves solitary, succulent. They are of easy culture on blocks of wood, with a little moss, suspended from the roof. Water should be plentifully given during the growing season; at other times, a very small quantity will suffice. About seventeen or eighteen species have been introduced, of which the following only are worth growing:
B. acaulis (stemless). fl. large; sepals and petals long, narrow, greenish and creamy-white; lip large, heart-shaped, and pure white; base of tube spotted with dull rose. September. l. very narrow, rush-like. h. 4in. Central America, 1852. (P. F. G. ii., 152.)
B. Digbyana (Digby's).* fl. solitary, 4in. across, produced from the top of the bulb; sepals and petals creamy-white; lip same colour, streaked with purple down the centre, and beautifully fringed. Winter. h. 9in. Honduras, 1844. A compact-growing evergreen. (B. M. 4474.)
B. Gibbsiana (Gibbs's).* fl. white, spotted with chocolate, large, three on each spike. l. rather broad and very thick. This rare, erect-growing species must be potted in peat and sphagnum.
B. glauca (glaucous).* fl. solitary, produced from a sheath at the top of the bulb; sepals and petals yellow; lip orange, with a white throat. Early spring. l. of a milky-green. h. 1ft. Vera Cruz, 1837. A very handsome fragrant species, somewhat difficult to flower, but this obstacle may be overcome by liberally growing during the proper season, and giving it a severe dry rest. (B. M. 4033.)
B. lineata (lined).* fl. large, very fragrant; sepals and petals creamy-white; lip large, pure white. l. long, terete, channelled above, tapering to a point, very deep green. South America, 1850. (B. M. 4734.)
B. venosa (veined).* fl. small and compact; sepals and petals cream-coloured; lip white, strongly veined. A pretty free flowering species. Honduras, 1839. (B. R. 26, 39.)