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P L A T E DCXL.
H E L I C O N I A B I H A T .
1Vi/d Plantain Tree.
C L A S S V. ORDE R L
PENTJNDRIA MONOGYNIA. Five Chives. One Pointal.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
SFATHA universalis partialisque. Calyx 0. Corolla
S-petala. Nectarium 2-phyllum. Capsula
3-lociüaris, monosperma.
SpATHE common and partial. Empalement none.
Blossom 3-petalled. Nectary two-leaved.
Capsule 3-celled, one-seeded.
SPECIFiC CHARACTER.
HELICONIA folils ad apicem acutis, spadice
erecto, radicalibus. Spatha disticha, multiflora
: nectarii folio superiore trífido.
Heliconia Bihai. mild. Sp. PI.
HELICONIA with leaves pointed at the end, with
an upright spadix, radical. Spathe twosided,
with many flowers. The upper leaf
of the nectary trifid.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The plant in miniature.
2. A flower.
3. A blossom spread open.
4. Seed-bud and pointal, summit magnified.
5. A transverse section of the seed-bud.
T H I S fine species of Heliconia is known by the common appellation of the Wild Plantain Tree, and
grows in mountainous boggy places in South America, and also in most of the West India Islands. It
is not generally cultivated with us, on account of the room it occupies, its elegant large foliage being
but ill adapted to the confinement of the stove. Our figure was made about the middle of April,
from a plant in the collection of the Countess de Vandes.