AGAVES OF THE UNITED STATES. 93 
is very interesting. After the blossoms begin to wither 
and fall away, buds develop from the stalk below and grow 
into small plants. After attaining a size of from three to 
ten inches, they fall to the ground and take root. They 
have very great vitality and develop into stout, strong 
plants. In cultivation, they are much used for planting. 
A single flowering stalk (pole or mast) will bear from one 
to two thousand pole plants; as many as twenty-five hun- 
dred have been reported. The species is said to have 
spread over the Keys by means of buds from the poles 
being driven by the currents of air and water. 
This Agave matures in from six to seven years. By 
cutting its leaves, the period of poling is retarded, and the 
size and productiveness of the pole islessened. Its average 
life in Florida is twelve years. 
It is a question whether this variety can be divided into 
two forms which grow independently. Mr. Dodge* speaks 
of a distinctly spined form growing in some places, and 
the common smooth-leaved form in others. He also quotes 
from those who assert that both forms may be found on a 
single pole, and that a plant is sometimes found whose 
leaves are spiny-edged on one margin and entire on the 
other. In Yucatan the plant bears spines, and it is said 
that the infiuence of soil and climate tend to produce the 
smooth-leaved form from the other. The shortly spinedf 
form is invariably shorter-leaved and stockier, and the 
smooth-leaved form spreads much the faster. 
++ ++ Caulescent; teeth prominent. 
A. pecipreNs Baker.—Trunk 10 to 15 dm. long, 
clothed with the old recurved leaves; young leaves 
erect and ascending, mature ones spreading, becoming 
more and more reflexed, old ones recurved; fleshy 
leaf-bases clasping the considerably elongated axis and 
giving it a swollen and spindle-like effect; leaves usually 
* Report of 1893, p. 23. 
+ Dodge, Report of 1891, p. 14. 
