Bromeliacee
bromelworts, an order of endogenous plants, placed by Dr. Lindley under his narcessal alliance.
The calyx is sometimes herbaceous looking, but sometimes colored. Petals, three, colored; stamina, six or more; ovary, ary, three celled, many-seeded, as is the fruit, which is capsular or succulent.
The stem is wanting or, if present, very short. Lindley estimated the known species at 170, all American. They have been introduced into Africa, the East Indies, and elsewhere. The well known pineapple is the bromelia ananas. Ropes are made in Brazil from another species of the same genus. All the species of bromeliaceæ can exist without contact with the earth.