B. capitata (headed).* fl. deep violet-blue, funnel-shaped, disposed in a compact, many-flowered umbel; valves of the spathe also deep violet. May. l. narrow, linear. h. 1ft. to 2ft. California, 1871.
FIG. 281. BRODIÆA COCCINEA, showing Flower and Habit.
B. coccinea (scarlet).* fl. 1½in. long, tubular, rich blood-red below, the apex of the tube and the segments yellowish-green; umbels composed of five to fifteen drooping flowers. June. l. linear, loose, shorter than the scape. h. 1½ft. California, 1870. Very handsome, distinct from all other species, requiring a warm, well-drained, and sunny position, and to remain undisturbed. SYN. Brevoortia coccinea. See Fig. 281. (B. M. 5857.)
B. congesta (close-headed).* fl. blue, with the crown paler; segments cleft at the top; umbel bearing six to eight blooms. The stamens in this species are metamorphosed into fleshy scales, which adhere to the mouth of the perianth. Summer. l. few, long, slender, channelled on the inside. Bulb small, roundish, and much wrinkled. h. 1ft. Georgia, &c., 1806. A very free-growing and rapidly increasing species.
B. c. alba (white).* fl. white; in other respects like the type, but not so vigorous.
B. gracilis (graceful).* fl. deep yellow, with brown nerves, ½in. or rather more long, in few-flowered umbels. July. l. solitary, about ¼in. broad, longer than the scape. h. 3in. to 4in. California, 1876. A scarce and rather tender little species, but very pretty.
B. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl. bluish-purple, with entire pointed segments; umbels bearing two to seven somewhat scattered blooms. Summer. l. two to three or more, linear, pointed, slender, grooved on the inside, furnished with a few membranous scales. Bulb small, roundish, dry and wrinkled. h. 1½ft. North America, 1806. SYN. Hookera coronaria. (B. R. 1183.)
B. Howellii (Howell's).* fl. purplish-blue, about ¾in. across, sub-bell-shaped, in many-flowered umbels. July and August. l. narrow acute, grooved, shorter than the scape. h. 18in. to 24in. California, 1880.
B. ixioides (Ixia-like). See [Calliprora lutea].
B. lactea (milky-white).* fl. white, usually with green midribs, ½in. to ¾in. across, saucer-shaped, in many-flowered umbels. June and July. l. linear, acute, nearly as long as the scape. h. 1ft. to 2ft. California, 1833. SYNS. Hesperoscordum lacteum, Milla hyacinthina.
B. multiflora (many-flowered).* fl. blue-purple, very numerous, in sub-globose heads. May. l. linear, elongate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, rather fleshy. h. 1ft. to 1½ft. California, 1872. (B. M. 5989.)
B. volubilis (twining). fl. rose-coloured, in dense umbels, each containing fifteen to thirty blooms; scape twining, sometimes 12ft. long. July. l. narrow, linear-lanceolate, 1ft. long, synanthous. California, 1874. Half-hardy bulb. (B. M. 6123.)
BROMELIA (named after Bromel, a Swedish botanist). ORD. Bromeliaceæ. A genus of stove herbaceous perennials, allied to the Pineapple. Flowers, corolla three-petaled, convolute, erect, or spreading at the top. Leaves densely packed, rigid, lanceolate, with spiny margins. Stems short. These plants require much the same treatment as Billbergia. Allied genera are [Æchmea,] [Ananassa,] [Billbergia,] Disteganthus, Greigia, Karatas, Ruckia (which see).
B. antiacantha (opposite-spined). fl. purple, scarlet. Brazil, 1864. SYN. B. sceptrum.
B. bicolor (two-coloured).* fl. scarlet, in a close central sessile head. March. l. numerous, narrow, ensiform, outer green, central crimson; elegantly radiate. Chili, 1872. SYNS. B. Joinvillei, B. pitcairniæfolia. (B. H. 14.)
B. bracteata (red-bracted).* fl. pink; scape elongated; raceme compound; bracts red, ovate-lanceolate. September. l. serrate, spiny. h. 2ft. Jamaica, 1785.
B. Fernandæ (Fernanda's).* fl. yellowish, in ovoid heads; bracts orange-red. July. l. linear-ligulate, 24in. to 30in. long, recurved, spiny-edged. Para, 1872.
B. Joinvillei (Joinville's). A synonym of [B. bicolor.]
B. Karatas. See Karatas Plumieri.
B. pitcairniæfolia (Pitcairnia-leaved). A synonym of [B. bicolor.]
B. sceptrum (sceptre-like). A synonym of [B. antiacantha] and Karatas Plumieri.
BROMELIACEÆ. An extensive order of stemless or short-stemmed plants, having rigid, channelled, and usually spiny leaves. Flowers very showy; outer perianth three-cleft, persistent, inner one of three withering segments; stamens six, inserted in the tube of the perianth. To this order belongs the Pineapple. The genera best known in gardens are Ananassa, Æchmea, Billbergia, Bromelia, and Tillandsia.
BROMHEADIA (in honour of Sir Edward Finch Bromhead). ORD. Orchideæ. A small genus of stove orchids, comprising a couple of species, with erect stems, large flowers, and cucullate lip, which is parallel with the column. For culture, see [Ansellia].
B. palustris (marsh).* fl., sepals and calyx white; lip white externally, within streaked with purple, and having a yellow blotch in centre; spike terminal, distichous, flexuous, many-flowered, on a long peduncle; bracts short, stiff, tooth-like. June. l. distichous, oblong-linear, emarginate. h. 2ft. Singapore, 1840. (B. R. 30, 18.)
