Tas. 4934. 
AGAVE CE st. 
Cels’s Agave. 
Nat. Ord. AMARYLLIDEZ.—HEXANDRIA MonoGynIa. 
Gen. Char. Perigonium corollinum, superum, infundibuliforme, persistens, limbi 
sexpartiti laciniis subeequalibus. Stamina 6, tubo perigonii inserta; filamenta 
filiformia, estivatione inflexa, sub anthesi exserta; anther@ lineares, versatiles. 
Ovarium inferum, triloculare. Ovula plurima, in loculorum angulo centrali bi- 
seriata, horizontalia, anatropa. Sfylus filiformis, exsertus, cavus, apice pervius ; 
stigma capitato-trigonum. Capsula coriacea, trigono-triquetra, trilocularis, locu- 
licido-trivalvis. Semina plurima, plano-compressa ; tesa chartacea, marginata ; 
raphe \aterali, umbilicum prope basin lateralem chalaze subapicali jungente. 
Embryo cylindricus, axilis, albuminis carnosi longitudine, extremitate radiculari 
umbilicum spectante.—Herbee acaules v. caulescentes, interdum gigantee, longeve, 
sed semel florentes, in America tropica et subtropica cis equatorem indigene, que- 
dam nune a mortalibus late diffuse ; foliis radicalibus carnosis, interdum maximis, 
— spinosis ; floribus in scapo radicali bracteato paniculatis, numerosissimis. 
mal. 
AGAVE Celsii ; acaulis, tota glauca, foliis (bipedalibus) obovato-lanceolatis valde 
sed brevi anguste acuminatis ineequaliter dentatis dentibus rectis curva- 
‘ tisve simplicibus v. furcatis, scapo (4-pedali) toto bracteato bracteis inferi- 
oribus subfoliiformibus superioribus sensim magis subulatis, spica oblonga 
multiflora, floribus subgeminis, perianthio infundibuliformi (viridi) crassi- 
usculo, limbi laciniis ovatis acutis, filamentis styloque perianthio plus quam 
duplo longioribus. 
This fine Agave was received many years ago from the garden 
of M. Cels, at Paris, as an unknown species, and equally un- 
known as to its native country—probably Mexico. It does not 
appear to be anywhere described, but is distinguished from every 
other with which we are acquainted by its singularly glaucous 
foliage, more resembling that of some A/oe than an Agave. — It 
flowered in May and June of the present year, for the first time 
with us. 
Descr. Stem none, or scarcely rising above the surface of the 
ground. eaves one and a half to two fect long, obovato-lan- 
ceolate, suddenly and sharply acuminate, nearly plane above, 
more convex beneath, the margin beset with short spines very 
AUGUsT IsT, 1856. 
* 
we 
