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a'ANBBOOK OF THE BROMELIACE^. 27
appeared as a distinct genusin Mr. Baker's revision of 1888. Otherwise,
the division with its five genera is arranged as in the ' Genera '
Plantarum.' Wittmack's TUlandsiecc has eight genera, for he recognises
as distinct Massamjea, also a subgenus of Caraijuata in the
'Hand-book,' and Schluinhergeria, considering the variations in
length and coherence of the perianth and staminal whorls to be of
generic value. He also separates Vriesea from Tillandsia.
Having gone steadily through the book, while arranging by it
the BromcliacccE in the Herbarium of the British Museum, we may
perhaps be allowed to point out a few matters which suggest
criticism.
The key to the Genera with which the book opens, and those
to the species with which all the larger genera are supplied, are of
great assistance in naming specimens, but now and again there
comes a little hitch in the arrangement. For instance, in the key
on p. X., the variations in relative length of sepals and petals are
used as distinguishing characters between the four genera, Strepto-
calyx, JEchnea, Billher