Bromeliaceae
A genus of handsome stove plants. Flowers borne on light panicles; calyx three-parted; corolla of three convolute petals, scaly at the base; stamens inserted into the base of the perianth. Leaves harsh, rigid. These require much the same treatment as recommended for AEchmea. The most suitable soil is a mixture of peat, leaf soil, and loam in about equal parts, to which is added some sharp sand, to keep it open and porous. Free and perfect drainage is absolutely necessary for the successful culture of this class of plants, and a layer of moss should be placed over the crocks previous to filling the pots with soil. Although fond of heat, Billbergias will, when in flower, bear removal to a cooler house than a stove; and, if they are kept a little dry at the same time, the change will greatly prolong their flowering period. The stronger growing kinds thrive well in rich, well-drained loam and leaf mould. Propagation is effected by carefully taking off the suckers which form at the base, after the plants have done flowering; but, before doing this, they should be allowed to attain a good size. The suckers grow quickly when attached to the parent stem, from which they derive their strength, and feel the check less when severed; besides which, they become more mature, and are in better condition for rooting. The best method to adopt is as follows: Take the sucker in the hand and gently twist it off the stem; next trim the base by the removal of a few of the lower leaves, and then insert each sucker separately in a small pot, in sharp soil. A bottom heat of about 80deg. will greatly facilitate new root-growth; failing this, they will root freely in the temperature of a stove if placed in a shaded position for two or three weeks, after which they will bear increased light and sunshine during the later part the day. See also AEchmea and Androlepis.
B. amoena (pleasing). fl. greenish-white, tipped with blue, loosely panicled; bracts rose-coloured. July to winter. l. ligulate, abruptly acuminate, slightly spiny. h. 2ft. Brazil, 1817. (B. R. 344.) B. Baraquiniana (Baraquin's).* fl. green; spikes long, the upper portion pendulous, bearing four or five large, oblong-lanceolate, bright scarlet bracts at the base of the flowers; the stem above the bracts is hoary white. Early spring. l. ligulate, tapering to a point, where, as well as at the edges, they are armed with sharp reddish spines, arched, transversely variegated with white scurfy bars. h. 1 1/2ft. Brazil, 1865. (I. H. 1864, 421.) B. chlorosticta (green-spotted). Synonymous with B. Saundersii. B. iridifolia (Iris-leaved).* fl. red and yellow, tipped with blue, in drooping spikes; rachis and bracts crimson. March. l. lanceolate, ensiform, 1 1/2ft., grey beneath. h. 1ft. Rio Janeiro, 1825. (B. R. 1068.) B. Liboniana (Libon's).* fl., outer perianth segments beautiful coral red, about half as long as the inner ones, which are whitish at the base, and a splendid purple upwards. Winter. l. in a dense rosette. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1858. (B. M. 5090.) B. Lietzei (Lietz's).* fl. in loose terminal racemes, each subtended by lanceolate pink bracts; sepals rosy pink, half as long as the greenish corolla. l. tufted, ligulate, acute; margin spiny. Brazil, 1881. A double-flowered variety, with petaloid stamens, is mentioned by M. Morren, which is interesting in being the first double-flowered Bromeliad yet recorded. (B. H. 1881, 97.) B. marmorata (marbled).* fl. deep blue; calyces green, tipped with blue; bracts very large, leafy, oblong, bright scarlet; panicles erect, branched, much longer than the leaves. l. broadly ligulate, sheathing at the base, truncate-mucronate at the apex; edges very regularly toothed, deep green, freely blotched and barred with dull reddish-brown. (I. H. 2, 48.) B. Moreli (Morel's).* fl., sepals red, densely woolly, less than half as long as the purplish-violet petals; spike dense, drooping; bracts large, deep rosy red, much longer than the solitary sessile flowers. February. l. arching, lanceolate, shining green on both surfaces; marginal spines few and weak. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1848. An excellent basket plant. SYN. B. Moreliana. (B. H. 1873, 1, 2.) B. Moreliana (Morel's). Synonymous with B. Moreli.
B. nutans (nodding). fl., sepals reddish; petals yeHowish-green, both with a blue margin; scapes slender, nodding, with a few large rosy bracts, terminating in a short drooping spike. Winter, l. numerous, long, narrow, ensiform, remotely spiny. h. 1 1/2ft. Brazil, 1868. (B. M. 6423.) B. pallescens (pallid). fl. greenish-white; ovary deeply grooved; spike pendulous; bracts lanceolate, of a beautiful rose-pink. Winter. l. dark green, and spotted on the upper surface, paler beneath, with transverse bars. h. 1 1/2ft. Brazil, 1856. SYNS. B. pallida and B. Wioti.
B. pallida (pale). Synonymous with B. pallescens.
B. pyramidalis (pyramidal). fl. red, with purple margin, in erect spikes; bracts lanceolate, rosy. February. l. curved, ligulate-lanceolate, with white bands beneath. h. 1ft. Peru, 1822. (B. H. 1873, 16.) B. Quesneliana (Quesnel's).* fl. deep purple; bracts flesh-coloured; upper ones variegated with white. h. 6ft. Guiana, 1874. An erect growing species, possessing the same habit as B. rosea-marginata, but having the leaves more acuminate, and deep green in colour. SYN. Quesnelia rufa. (F. d. S. 10, 1026.) B. rosea-marginata (rose-margined).* fl., inflorescence a dense oblong spike of light blue, subtended by large, broad, deep, rose-coloured bracts, with scarious margins. January. l. sheathing at the base, about 2ft. long, channelled, spiny on the margin, and marked with transverse mealy bands. h. 1 1/2ft. Tropical America, 1880. SYNS. B. rubro-marginata and Quesnelia roseo-marginata.
B. rubro-marginata (red-margined). Synonymous with B. rosea-marginata. B. Saundersii (Saunders').* fl. about 2in. long, disposed in a loose pendulous inflorescence; sepals crimson, half the length of the petals, which are yellow outside and blue within. l. tufted, ligulate, rounded at the apex, terminated by a short mucro, saw-toothed, green above, purple beneath, and spotted white on both surfaces. Brazil, 1868. SYN. (according to Morren) B. chloro-sticta. (F. M. n. s. 106.) B. thyrsoidea (thyrsoid). fl. dense, in thyrsoid spikes, almost without bracts. June. l. green, ligulate, shortly acuminate, the margin toothed. h. 1ft. Brazil, 1850. (B. M. 4756.) B. vittata (striped). fl. indigo blue, with crimson calyces and bracts; racemes nodding. l. banded, ligulate, elongate, shining. h. 1 1/2ft. Brazil, 1843. (B. H. 1871, 14, 15.) B. Wioti (Wiot's). Synonymous with B. pallescens.
B. zebrina (zebra-streaked).* fl. greenish; scape clothed with large, pale, salmon-coloured bracts; inflorescence gracefully curved downwards. Early spring. l. sheathing for about half their length, forming thus a sort of tube, deep green, with zones of grey, the whole deepening with age. h. 1 1/2ft. South America, 1826. SYN. Helicodea zebrina. (L. B. C. 1912.)