106 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
leaves become reflexed and persist on the lower portion of 
the trunk, becoming dry and closely appressed. The pro- 
longation of the trunk is also by lateral buds springing 
from a point near the base of the peduncle. This species 
has a much longer peduncle than any of the Sarcoyuccas 
known to the writer and the inflorescence and fruit cluster 
are raised considerably above the leaves so that these appar- 
ently do not aid or interfere in any way in the dissemination 
of the seeds. If this species is modified for wind dissem- 
ination, as is the case with most capsular Yuccas, this 
elevation of the fruit cluster on a long peduncle would be 
of decided advantage. 
The ecological significance of leaf reflexion in aloifolia 
and other Yuccas is not very evident. Prof. Lester F. 
Ward * has suggested that the reflexing of the leaves in the 
succulent fruited Yuccas has for its function the protection 
of the sweet pulpy fruits from the ravages of small animals 
such as the raccoon, opossum, rodents, etc., which might 
injure the seeds if the fruits were eaten by them. Any 
animal attempting to climb the trunk of aloifolia or other 
species having these reflexed leaves, meets an almost 
impenetrable barrier in the numerous sharp spines of the 
stiff reflexed leaves which cover the older portions of the 
trunk, pointing downward like so many bayonets. Should 
they attempt to reach the cluster of fruits by jumping up 
from below in the case of low plants, or by jumping down 
on them from neighboring trees, they are met by the rigid 
points of the erect leaves of the upper phytomeroid, which 
remain erect till the fruits begin to dry up and pass their 
desirability. 
Dr. Trelease f mentions having found fruits of baccata in 
the crown of leaves where they had fallen on maturity and 
had remained protected from rodents by the reflexed leaves. 
* In a paper read before the Washington Biological Club.— Unpub- 
lished. 
t Trelease, “‘ Further Studies of Yuccas,”’ 1. c., p. 186. 
