we are to consider this tuber as the normal condition of the stem 
or caudex of this species, or whether we are to look upon it as 
an accidental collection or congeries of united stems (a kind 
of monstrosity), still remains a doubt in our minds. All the 
Dasyliria yet known to us have separate, unbranched, and dis- 
tinct stems, more or less elongated, as in the caulescent species 
of Agave, and as may be seen in our figures of two of the 
species of this remarkable genus, at our ab. 5030 and Tab. 
5041. The flowers of the panicles develope themselves very 
slowly, and the withered stalks and branches remain a long time 
attached to the trunk. Mr. Bentham compares this plant with 
the Cordyline longifolia of H.B.K.; but the very large, almost 
sheathing bracteas, rather than leaves (which latter do not appear 
in the figure given by Humboldt), and the widely different ra- 
mification of the panicle, and the acuminated sepals, indicate 
something very different. 
Descr. Caudex a gigantic tuber, as above described; from 
the tubercles on the surface of this, the tufts or fascicles of /eaves 
appear, from one and a half to three feet long, slender, harsh and 
. rigid, from a rather broad lanceolate base, gradually becoming 
subulate, and tapering to a very long, slender, rigid, pungent and 
entire point ; of a glaucous hue, finely striated, moderately keeled 
at the back, canaliculate on the upper surface, the margin rough 
to the touch from the presence of rather distant, curved, spi- 
nescent teeth, pointing upwards, uniform (not of two kinds as 
in D. glaucophyllum and D. acrotrichum); at the base behind a — 
broad costa is seen, transversely wrinkled. From the centre of 
the tuft or fascicle of leaves the panicle arises, shorter than the 
leaves, scarcely more than a foot or a foot and a half high, 
branched from near the base; primary dranches spreading hori- 
zontally, distant, quite straight, rigid; the inferior ones with 
long subulate dracteas at their base; the rest with small palea- 
ceous ones. Flowers in glomerules or clusters upon the straight 
branches, rather lax, bracteolate. Broader and quite membra- 
coreg bracteoles (about three) surround each pedicel, which 
atter 1s about the length of the bracteoles, and jointed at the 
summit, whence the flowers readily fall away. Sepals orbiculari- 
elliptical, membranaceous, white at the edge, the rest purplish. 
Stamens (our plant has only male flowers) six, longer than the 
penianth ; filament subulate. Anther subcordate. 
Fig: 1. A very much diminished re i Hie" Y i 
presentation of a flowering plant, with the 
great tuberous caudex. 2. Leaf, nat. size. 3. Transverse Soektisas i a leaf above 
the middle, magnified. 4. Portion of : es : 
flowers. 6. Stamen :—magnified. ui dremmadived vicious smears * 
