AGAVE RIGIDA— AGAVE ANGUSTIFOLIA. 283 



eral synonyms, docs not lead to the conclusion that these 

 names pertain to more than one species — at least in the con- 

 servative use of this word— though differences exist in stem- 

 height, degree of suckering, form of capsule, etc. Alton not 

 having named it, this species is entitled to A. angustifolia as 



its earliest name. 

 An interesting confirmation of this conclusion may be 



added. In 181G, Major General Beatson,* 



formerly Governor 



published 



from 



only a few days before the death of this distinguished botanist, 

 who, as well as Burchell, is known to have been there, f In 

 this list (p. 296), Agave lurida ''Linn." appears as the name 

 of an exotic species used for fences. It was at about this time 

 that the plants were received from St. Helena at Chelsea, 

 which Haworth recognized as being his own A. angustifolia. 

 His Excellency, the present Governor of St. Helena, has 

 obligingly had Mr. T. Broadway, Clerk of the Works, send 

 me leaves, capsules and seeds of the common fence aloe of 

 today, which I cannot distinguish from Agave Wight 



lurida 



elmann 



Missouri 



X 



by Mr. Shaw somewhere about 



out excluding this possibility 

 afterward A. excelsa. Mr. Br 



angustifolia, and Baker — with- 



and 



referred to in Melliss 



of St. Helena under the name A. lurida Jacq. Through the 

 further kindness of the Governor, I have learned that Mr. 

 Homagce, one of the old residents of St. Helena, remembers 

 having been told in his youth that Agaves were taken to 

 that island from Buenos Aires in 1806, by Captain Robert 



* Tracts relative to the island of St. Helena. London 



t 

 t 



London. 1896. p. 18-19. 



the name rigida in 1860, although he enters rigida, angustifolia and Jacqui- 



niana 



