Bromelia
(named after Bromel, a Swedish botanist).
ORD. Bromeliaceae. 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 AEchmea, Ananas, Billbergia, Disteganthus, Greigia, Karatas (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. SYN. B. Joinvillei, B. pitcairniaefolia. (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. Fernandae (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. pitcairniaefolia (Pitcairnia-leaved). A synonym of B. bicolor.
B. sceptrum (sceptre-like). A synonym of B. antiacantha and Karatas Plumieri.