138 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM, 
2. Nolina microcarpa S. Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 14: 247. 1879. 
Typr LocaLity: ‘8. Arizona (Rock Cafion; Rothrock, n. 278).”’ 
Rance: Southwestern New Mexico to southern Arizona and southward. 
New Mexico: Mimbres River; Big Hatchet Mountains; Silver City; San Luis 
Mountains; Dog Mountains; Burro Mountains; Mogollon Creek; Lake Valley; Mag- 
dalena Mountains. Dry plains and low hills, in the Lower and Upper Sonoran zones. 
A specimen collected by Bailey at San Rafael probably belongs here, although the 
margins of the leaves have much fewer teeth. 
The leaves of this plant were used by the Indians in former times in weaving bas- 
kets and mats. They also furnish a fairly good quality of fiber, which may some day 
be utilized in making cordage. 
8. DASYLIRION Zucc. Sorot. 
Dicecious perennials with thick short stems, numerous strap-shaped spiny-margined 
leaves, and very numerous small white flowers borne in tall narrow panicles. 
The bases of the leaves form a round head about the thick stems, when the ends have 
been cut or burned off, and these are used for feeding stock. These heads are roasted 
by the native people and used for food and for the manufacture of a drink called 
“sotol” which contains from 40 to 50 per cent of alcohol. It has been found practi- 
cable to manufacture commercial alcohol from the plant. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES. 
Prickles of the leaves mostly recurved; leaves green... .-...---- 1. D. leiophyllum. 
Prickles of the leaves directed forward; leaves somewhat glaucous.. 2. D. wheeleri. 
1. Dasylirion leiophyllum Engelm.; Trel. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 50: 433. 1911. 
TypE Locality: Presidio, Texas. 
Ranae: Western Texas to southern New Mexico and southward. 
New Mexico: Central; Florida Mountains; Big Hatchet Mountains. Dry hills, 
in the Lower Sonoran Zone. 
2. Dasylirion wheeleri 8. Wats. in Wheeler, Rep. U. 8. Surv. 100th Merid. 6: 
272. 1879. 
TyPE LOCALITY: Southern Arizona. 
Rance: Western Texas to southern Arizona. 
New Mexico: San Mateo Mountains; Kingston; Mangas Springs; Big Hatchet 
Mountains; San Luis Mountains; Rincon; mesa near Las Cruces; Organ Mountains; 
White Mountains. Dry hills, in the Lower and Upper Sonoran zones. 
22. CONVALLARIACEAE. Lily-of-the-valley Family. 
Perennial herbs arising from rootstocks, never with bulbs or corms; leaves alternate 
(in ours cauline), sometimes reduced to scales; flowers perfect, in terminal racemes or 
panicles or axillary in small clusters; perianth segments distinct or more or less united 
at the base; pistil 3-parted; fruit a fleshy berry. 
KEY TO THE GENERA. 
Leaves reduced to scales; branches numerous, filiform. .... 1. Asparagus (p. 139). 
Leaves not reduced; stems sparingly branched or simple, 
not filiform. 
Perianth segments united into a tube.............-- 2. SALOMONIA (p. 139). 
Perianth segments distinct. 
Flowers in terminal racemes or panicles.......... 3. VAGNERA (p. 139). 
Flowers terminal or opposite the leaves, solitary 
or in few-flowered clusters. 
Flowers in terminal, few-flowered clusters.... 5. Disporum (p. 140). 
Flowers solitary opposite the leaves.......... 4. Strepropus (p. 189). 
