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Agave americana L. 



This seems not to be very common in western Mexico. I saw only a few 

 cultivated specimens, and those always about settlements. The Indians 

 of the Sierra Madre claim to obtain from it a line soft fiber used chiefly 

 for thread. Contrary to general belief, Agave americana has little 

 economic value as compared with some of the other species. 



Herbarium specimens only were obtained of this species. 

 Agave cochlearis (?) Jncobi. Pulquk maguey. 



Mr. Nelson says of this fiber that it is very fine and strong and used 

 for making fine cord, soft rope, small bags for carrying food or other 

 small articles, and sweater pads for pack saddles. Owing to the fleshy 

 character of the leaves the extraction of the fiber is difficult and expen- 

 sive, so that the fiber is not of commercial importance. With suitable 

 machinery, however, it ought to be worked profitably. Its fiber is 12 

 dm. (4 feet) or more long, nearly white, and very soft. 



Unfortunately Mr. Nelson collected no botanical specimens, and the 

 identification of the species is largely guesswork. It is customary to 

 refer all the large fleshy-leaved pulque magueys to Agave atrorirens, 

 while in fact several very distinct forms are readily recognized in the 

 field. The commonest of these agaves in western Mexico — and I have 

 also seen specimens of the same from San Luis Potosi and Saltillo — does 

 not answer to the description of A. atrovirem. I have tentatively called 

 it A. coehlearis, as it answers to this species better than any other which 

 Mr. J. G. Baker recognizes in his monograph of this genus. 

 Agave falcata Eugelm. Guapilla. 



Mr. Nelson states that the leaves are put into boiling water to wilt 

 them, which facilitates the cleaning out of the fiber. He also says that 

 the fiber is fine and soft, but difficult to obtain and not of commercial 

 importance. This is perhaps the same liber referred to in the Kew 

 Bulletin as coming from Tula, although the plant is called Agave striata, 

 and the Mexican name is given as "palma Ioca." 



A. falcata may be the same as A. .striata, although Mr. Baker keeps 

 them distinct. I have carefully compared these leaves with garden 

 specimens and really find no grounds for separation. Still, living 

 specimens of both should be studied before the question of specific 

 identity is determined. In any case this agave from north Mexico is 

 the A. falcata. described by Engelmann. It is very common in north 

 Mexico. Herbarium specimens were collected by Mr. E. W. Nelson in 

 Jaumave Valley, June 1, 1898 (No. 4457), and in the Sierra Encarnacione, 

 Coahuila, July 28, 1896 (No. 3891). Fiber and leaves were also sent 

 from Matehuala. The latter are more than 9 dm. (1 yard) long. 



Agave geminiflora Ker-Gawl. 



The Cora Indians in the mountains of the Territorio de Tepic obtain 

 a very soft fiber from one of their local plants, which is probably Agave 

 geminiflora. 



Herbarium specimens and samples said to be its fiber were brought 

 back. 



