Pn aga liga ee 
ce ) 
TAB. 6091. 
BESCHORNERIA Tonetu. 
Native of Mexico. 
* . * 
Nat. Ord. AMarYLLIDk.g.—Tribe AGAVER, 
Genus Brscuornerta, Kunth; (Kunth, Enum. Plant., vol. v. p- 844), 
Bescuorneria Tonelii’; foliis reeurvis pedalibus elliptico-lanceolatis acumi- 
natis asperulis subtillissime denticulatis, scapo 4-pedali sanguineo- 
purpureo, panicula 2-pedali inclinata, ramis paucis gracilibus paten- 
tibus sparsifloris, bracteis ovato-lanceolatis acuminatis pallidis, floribus 
nutantibus et pendulis, pedicellis ovariis perianthiique segmentis basi 
et dorso late sanguineo-purpureis, perianthii segmentis acutis viridibus. 
Bescuornerta Tonelii, Jacobi in Otto Hamburg. Garten- und Blumenz., 
vol. xx. p, 503, sine descriptione. : 
Had I not examined this plant in a living state in Mr. 
Wilson Saunders’s garden, where it flowered in May of last 
year, I should certainly have identified it with the original 
B. tubifora, Kunth, as figured at Tab. 4642 of this work ; 
nor am I now sure, after a comparison of these real or sup- 
posed species, that they are more than varieties of one. The 
present is of alaxer habit, has much broader leaves, and 
brighter red purple scape and panicle, the latter with drooping 
branches ; it has also rather longer more pendulous flowers 
with more acute perianth-segments. In all other respects, 
and especially in the floral organs, the two supposed species 
appear to be identical. 
According to General Jacobi, who (in Otto’s work, cited 
above), has given a sketch of the genera and species of 
Agavee, the genus Beschorneria contains four species, of 
which two are now figured in this Magazine, and the others, 
B. yuccoides and B. Parmentieri (Yucca Parmentiert, Roezl), 
are unknown to me. Unfortunately General Jacobi gives no 
description of B. Zonelii, his conspectus of dloine@, which was 
commenced in the work referred to, not having been con- 
tinued to Beschorneria, and I am therefore dependent on the 
APRIL Ist, 1874, 
