Renealmia polystachia sensu Jacq.[as Renealmia polystachia sensu Jacquin, non Linnaeus 1753]

Diagnose: —Based on Jacquin s n obtained in Habana, Cuba, and cultivated in Vienna. Not seen, identity fide Mez. Renealmia (polystachia) scapo spicis imbricatis, lateralibus. LINN. sp.pl. 2. p.286? CAL. Perianthium monophyllum, hinc planum, illinc convexum, persistens. Tubus brevissimus, receptaculo circum natus. Limbus erectus, longissimus, connivens, bifidus: lacinia exteriore lanceolato-oblonga, canaliculato-concava, acuminata; interiore oblonga, acuminata, postice lateribus conniventibus canaliculata, antice plana, superne bifida. COR Petala tria, linearis, canaliculato-concava, acuta, erecta, lateribus sibi invicem incumbentibus, calyce fere duplo longiore. STAM Filamenta sex, filiformia, erecta, receptaculo inserta, corollam superantia. Antherae oblongae, obtusae, incumbentes. PIST Germen ovatum, obsolete trigonum, abiens in Stylum filiformem, situ et longitudine staminum. Stigmata tria, subrotunda, patentia. PER. . . SEM . . . Planta parasitica rupibus fruticosis & arboribus innaseitur.Culmus est foliosus, erectus, tripedalis. Foliar sunt lineari-subulata, acuminata, integerrima, canaliculata, basi lata & ventricosa, numerosa, inferiore bipedalis. Spicae laterales, circiter decem, pedales, coccineae, alternae in culmo. Spathae coccineae, superne imbricatae, totas spicas obtegentes. Floret sessiles, solitarii, inodori, corollis caeruleis. Fructum non contigit videre. Habitat Havanae in colibus rupestribus, alibique. Inveni florentem Januario. Hujus generis vel praecendentis aliam speciem etiam Havanae in fruticetis maritimis rupestribus parasiticam ossendi, cujus flores ignoro. Est foliis lineari-subulatis, integerrimis, imbricatis, habitu foliorum Tillandsiae tenuifoliae, at nec maculatis, nec sicu spiralibus Culmus dividitur in spicam com positam compressam, cujus particles alternae sunt circiter quinque, compresto-planae, distichae, erectae, ex capsulis utrinque tribus vel quatuor suberectis & alternatim imbricatis. Istiusmodi spicam partialim exhibet figura 27. tabulae CLXXXIII

Observations: —From this genus or the preceding one, another species was also found near Havana as a maritime bony shrub growing as a parasite on rocks, whose flowers were unknown. Leaves linear-subulate, entire, imbricate, with similar leaf habit of Tillandsia tenuifolia, not at all maculate, and not spiralling. Stem divided into compressed spikes, whose alternate parts are about five., flat compressed, distichous, erect, with three or four capsules on both sides suberect & alternately imbricate. Drawing of the spike part is shown in figure 27. table CLXXXIII

Translated by Butcher from: Jacquin 1763. (protologue) Selectarum stirpium Americanarum ... .