Tas. 6768. 
BESCHORNERIA Dkecostsriana. 
Native of Mexico. 
Nat. Ord. AMARYLLIDEZ.—Tribe AGAVE. 
Genus Bescuornenria, Kunth. ; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 733.) 
Bescnorneria Decosteriana; acaulis, foliis basalibus dense rosulatis oblanceolatis 
2-23-pedalibus crassis carnosulis obscure carinatis ad apicem acutum sensim 
attenuatis facie obscure viridibus dorso glaucescentibus margine scabris denti- 
culatis, pedunculo valido erecto foliis multis reductis bracteiformibus praedito, 
panicule ramis multis patulis vel cernuis, ap 2-3-nis gracilibus apice 
articulatis, bracteis magnis ovatis scariosis albidis rubro tinctis, ovario clavato 
apice libero, limbi segmentis oblanceolatis viridibus valde imbricatis, genitalibus 
limbo subzequilongis, fructu subgloboso coriaceo. 
B. Decosteriana, Hort. Leichtlin. 
Four species of Beschorneria have already been described 
and figured in the BoranicaL Macazine, viz. B. tubiflora, 
tab. 4642; B. yuccoides, tab. 5203; B. Tonelii, tab. 6091; 
and B. bracteata, tab. 6441. From all of these the present 
plant differs by its more robust habit, thicker and more 
fleshy leaves, and more ample panicle, with the flowers 
always two or three ina cluster. For horticultural purposes 
it is decidedly the finest representative of its genus. I am 
not aware from whom the name employed originated, but 
we received the plant under it some time ago from Herr 
Leichtlin, of Baden Baden. Our drawing was made from 
a specimen that flowered in the Cactus-house at Kew in the 
early months of 1884. Four other supposed species were 
also named by Jacobi (pumila, Galeottei, Schlechtendalii, 
and Verlindeniana), but we have never had authenticated 
specimens of them, and they have not been described. 
Descr. Leaves twenty or more, arranged in a dense sessile 
basal rosette, oblanceolate, two or two and a half feet long, 
two and a half inches broad at the middle, narrowed gra- 
dually to the acute tip and to half that breadth above the 
dilated base, where it is half an inch thick, the thickest in 
auGcusT Ist, 1884, 
