Pes ar Ee ee 
AGAVES OF THE UNITED STATES. 1S 
from the central bud, an extremely delicate white margin 
soon fluffs away, and the new epidermis below bears tiny 
little teeth from apex to base. A further development 
results in the formation of marginal threads on the upper 
portion of leaf, which eventually split off, while the teeth 
persist on the thin membranous margin of the base. 
+ + Leaf with a continuous, toothed, horny margin from apex to 
base.— MARGINATAE (Baker). 
A. Lrecuueurtita Torrey.— Leaves about 10 to 15, 
thick, concave above, rounded below, usually 20 to 35 cm. 
long, 2 to 3.5 cm. wide, others much larger, 5 cm. wide 
and sometimes 60 cm. long, narrowed above a very broad 
base, and after widening slightly, maintaining nearly 
parallel edges for some distance, and gradually tapering 
above, deep green with many interrupted darker lines on 
lower side, and less distinct ones on upper side when 
young; end-spine channeled, 18 to 40mm. long, extending 
downwards to a point on the back of leaf; margin rather 
broad; teeth commencing at a considerable distance below 
apex, largest towards middle of leaf, 5 to 10 mm. long, 
rather distant, stout, usually strongly reflexed, sometimes 
flexuous; color of end-spine, margin and prickles, brown, 
soon turning to gray; margin and prickles at last splitting 
off, and falling away in pieces or entirely, but usually leay- 
ing a part attached to end-spine ; scape slender, 18 to 40 
dm. high; bracts 50 mm. long below, 10 to 12 mm. above, 
deciduous; flowers sometimes in clusters of three to sey- 
eral, and variable in size, (fresh) from 30 to 40 mm. long 
above base of ovary; perianth spreading, campanulate, 
greenish or yellowish white, sometimes deeply tinged 
partly or completely with purple; tube 2 to 3 mm., lobes 15 
to18 mm. long; filaments purple, inserted at base of lobes, 
35 mm. long; anthers 13 to 16 mm. long; style slightly 
shorter than filaments; capsules ovoid or oblong, 15 to 35 
mm, long; seeds smooth, shining, 3 to 4 mm. in longest 
diameter.— Bot. of the Boundary (1858), 213. A. heter- 
