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Karatas (Derivation of name uncertain)

(derivation of name uncertain). SYNS. Nidularium, Regelia (of Lemaire). ORD. Bromeliaceae. A genus comprising about ten species of stove herbaceous perennials, natives of the West Indies, tropical South America, and several from Brazil. Flowers in dense, sessile, terminal heads. Leaves rosulate, often very long, spinoso-serrate. For culture, see Billbergia. K. cruenta (bloody). fl. blue, red; spike capitate, sub-sessile. February to March. l. strap-shaped, obtuse, mucronate, spinosely dentate, tipped with blood-red; bracts broad-oval, imbricate, obtuse, concave. h. 1ft. Rio Janeiro, 1824. (B. M. 2892, under name of Billbergia cruenta.) K. humilis (dwarf). fl. crimson, in central depressed tufts, surrounded by leaves. l. recurved, lanceolate, strongly toothed; lower ones greyish, mealy. h. 1ft. West Indies, 1789. (R. H. 1878, 190.) K. Innocentii (Innocent's). fl. bright orange-red, produced in a nest-like crown. l. large, lanceolate, dark green on the upper side, deep reddish-purple beneath; margins serrated. Brazil, 1862. A handsome and compact plant. (I. H. 1862, 329.) K. Laurentii (Laurent's). fl. pale blue, in short heads. l. ligulate, recurved, abruptly acuminate, light green, dotted with dark brown; inner ones white towards the base. South America, 1867. An elegant plant. (R. G. 529.) K. Legrellae (Legrell's). fl. purple, white; bracts rose. l. 5ft. to 6ft. long, rigid, beset with curved spines, deep green above, subglaucous beneath. North Brazil, 1872. A noble species, the inflorescence of which is very handsome. (B. H. 1872, 129.) K. olens (putrid-smelling). fl. purple, almost concealed by the closely-imbricating, broad, greenish-white bracts. l., floral ones rich deep red; lower leaves full green, glabrous, about 1ft. long. 1in. or more wide, spinulose-serrate at margin. h. 1ft. (B. M. 5502, under name of Billbergia olens.) K. Plumieri (Plumier's). fl. pink, sessile, aggregate. fr. oval, 200 to 300 in number, sessile in a heap or central group, surrounded by paleaceous expanded leaves or bracts, and containing a succulent whitish or yellowish flesh under a coriaceous and yellowish bark. l. 6ft. to 7ft. long, radical, subulate-linear, sharp-pointed, spiny-edged. h. 2ft. West Indies, 1739. SYNS. Bromelia Karatas and B. sceptrum.

K. Scheremetiewi (Scheremetiew's). fl. white, blue. l. green; floral ones bright red, much shorter than the outer ordinary leaves. h. 6in. to 12in. Probably Brazil. SYNS. Caraguata serrata, Nidularium Scheremetiewi'. (R. H. 1875,230.) K. spectabilis (showy). fl. blood-red, white, pale violet-blue, in a crowded, terminal, flat-topped fascicle. l. about 1ft. long by 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad, broadly strap-shaped, from a broad sheathing base, slightly concave; margin with small, remote, spiny teeth; upper surface dark green, except the tip, which presents a bright, blood-red patch 1/2in. deep on both surfaces; under surface covered with alternate transverse bands of dull green or purplish and dirty white. h. 1ft. Brazil. (B. M. 6024, under name of Nidularium spectabile.)