rosette throws out suckers ; the panicle gives rise to great 
numbers of viviparous bulbils, and at the same time 
ripens capsules which contain an abundance of seeds. 
Description.—Shrub, developing a stem 3-4 ft. high and 10 in. thick, 
emitting suckers at the base. Leaves numerous in a terminal rosette, rigidly 
erecto-patent, 44 ft. long, oblanceolate-ensiform, 4 in. or more wide above the 
middle, gradually narrowed towards the base, apex rather shortly acuminate, 
not very fleshy, glaucous and somewhat pruinose, smooth, convex on 
the upper surface near the base, then flat and channelled with upcurved 
margins, underneath convex and almost keeled; margins armed from the base 
to about 2-3 in. below the end-spine, basal prickles very small, often confluent, 
the others about 1-14 in. apart, blackish, with a broad horny base and a fine 
short point, 1-2 lin. long, the lower recurved, the others upcurved (sometimes 
the point twice bent), the margin between almost straight; end-spine stout, 
conic, 1} in. long, a little recurved, not decurrent, round, grooved below the 
middle, blackish-brown. Inflorescence about 18-21 ft. high, straight or slightly 
curved at the top; scape stout, green, with numerous adpressed triangular 
acute empty bracts; panicle oblong-pyramidal, rather loose, with about 15-20 
branches, which are patent, tripartite at the top, with numerous flowers in 
dense clusters; pedicels very short; bracts minute, deltoid, soon withering. 
Flowers 23-3 in. long. Perianth tube about % in. long, 6-furrowed, broadly 
obconic-campanulate; segments about as long as or a little longer than the 
tube, linear, obtuse, yellowish-green, soon withering. Filaments inserted in 
the middle of the tube, 2-21 in. long; anthers 1 in. long, yellow. Ovary 
cylindric-clavate, somewhat triangular, green, pruinose, constricted at the 
top, 1} in. long; style 3 in. long; stigma clavate. Capsule oblong-clavate, 
obtusely triangular, 3-furrowed, with stipitate base and beaked apex, over 
2 in. long. Seeds almost semiorbicular, 43-5 lin. long, black. Bulbils very 
numerous. ; 
Tan. 8746.—Figs. 1 and 2, anthers; 3, stigma; 4, sketch of an entire plant: 
—all enlarged except 4, which is much reduced. 
