The plant from which this genus was originally formed by the younger Linnæus in his Sup. Plant. P. 46, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope; and we have our doubts, whether this plant ought to be placed with it; for although it accords in the essential character, of a double cup, the only one thought necessary, by Linnæus, to divide it from Barleria; yet, from the number of parts in which it differs from his generic character, such as the shape of the blossom, the length of the pointal, the situation and shape of the chives, the very different shape of the seeds, &c. we are led to think, it ought to be considered as a distinct Genus. But in following such good authority as the able and learned Dr. Roxburg, it is to be hoped, we shall stand excused in continuing the same name he has assigned it, without alteration at least, if not without comment. [Illustration] PLATE CXXIV. HELICONIA PSITTACORUM. _Parrot-billed Heliconia._ CLASS V. ORDER I. _PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Five Chives. One Pointal. GENERIC CHARACTER. CALYX. Spathæ communes partialesque alternæ, distinctæ, persistentes. Perianthium nullum. COROLLA. Petala tria, oblonga, canaliculata, erecta, acuta, æqualia. _Nectarium_ diphyllum; foliolo altero petalis subæquali; altero brevissimo, canaliculato, uncinato, opposito. STAMINA. Filamenta quinque, linearia. Antheræ erectæ, longæ. PISTILLUM. Germen inferum, triquetrum. Stylus staminibus fere brevior. Stigma longum, gracile, curvatum, capitulo terminali. PERICARPIUM. Capsula oblonga, truncata, triquetra, trilocularis, trivalvis. SEMINA solitaria, oblonga. CALYX. Sheaths common and partial alternate, distinct, remaining. Cup none. BLOSSOM. Petals three, oblong, channelled, upright, pointed, equal. _Honeycup_ two leaved; one leaflet nearly the length of the petals; the other very short, channelled, hooked and opposite to the larger. CHIVES. Five threads, linear. Tips upright and long. POINTAL. Seed-bud beneath, three-sided. Shaft scarcely shorter than the chives. Summit long, slender, curved, and terminating in a small head. SEED-VESSEL. Capsule oblong, appearing cut off at the end, three-sided, three cells, three valves. SEEDS solitary, oblong. SPECIFIC CHARACTER. Heliconia. Foliis glaberrimis, lanceolatis; inflorescentia glaberrima; spadice terminali flexuoso; spathis multifloris, marginibus revolutis; nectario lanceolato, concavo, integro. Heliconia with very smooth, lance-shaped leaves; the inflorescence quite smooth; stem terminating in a zig-zag form; sheaths containing many flowers and rolled back; honey-cup lance-shaped, concave, and entire. REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.