* AGAVE saponaria. 
The Soap Aloe. 
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. AMARYLLIDACEZ, $ AGAVER. 
AGAVE. Botanical Register, vol. 14. fol. 1145. 
A. saponaria; acaulis, inermis, glaucescens, rhizomate crasso carnoso, foliis 
teneris lanceolatis acuminatis semiamplexicaulibus, spicá simplici, bracteis 
acuminatis ovario brevioribus (perianthii laciniis revolutis). Botanical 
Register for 1838, mise. no. 141. » 
A full description of this plant having been already given 
in the present work, it is needless to repeat it. 
Mr. Skinner is related to have found it used as a substi- 
tute for soap in Peru, where he saw it growing on a sandy 
plain; it seems however to be Mexican; and to be very 
nearly the same as the Polianthes mexicana of Zuccarini, 
which is described as having white flowers, and is probably 
an allied species. That it is an Agave admits I think of no 
doubt; but, unlike those gigantic species with which we are 
most familiar, it flowers readily and does not then perish, 
but continues to grow without suffering ; in fact it is a true 
perennial, while the others are analogous to annuals. 
If this species should furnish a fibre capable of being 
used by the manufacturer, it will then, like the Maguey, its 
near ally, both produce a material from which linen may be 
woven, and assist in washing it afterwards. 
Its cultivation is very simple. When it is in a growing 
state it should be placed in a temperature a little higher than 
* Ayavoc admirable, in allusion to the many useful purposes to which the 
genus is applicable. 
