Portea
(named after Marius Porte, who first discovered the genus). Including Ortgiesia. ORD. Bromeliaceae. A genus comprising three or four species of stove, American herbs, with short stems. Flowers beneath the upper bracts solitary, those under the lower ones bi-or ternate; sepals ovate or ovate-lanceolate, scarcely imbricated; petals similar to those of Billbergia; peduncles terminal, with coloured scales; in-florescence in the typical species elongated. Leaves numerous, rosulate, elongated, rigid, spiny-serrate. The species require culture similar to Billbergia (which see). P. kermesina (carmine).* fl. blue; spike erect, oblong, surrounded throughout by oblong-apiculate, rose-coloured bracts. l. tufted, spreading, ligulate, abruptly apiculate, channelled. h. 1 1/2ft. Bahia, 1870. (R. G. 829; R. H. 1870, p. 239.) SYN. Billbergia Brongniarti.
P. Legrelliana (Legrell's). fl. spicate, with bright red sepals and bracts, and reddish-purple petals. l. lanceolate, recurved, 1ft. to 1 1/4ft. long, spiny. h. 6in. Brazil, 1875. SYNS, Aechmea Legrelliana, Hohenbergia Legrelliana (Ref. B. 285).
P. tillandsiodes (Tillandsia-like). According to Bentham, this is the correct name of plant described in this work as Aechmea Ortgiesii.