5g HO R T US J A M A I C E N S 13.. UAGGEit 



BAGGER-PLANT, or ADAM'.S NEEDLE. YUCCA;' 



Ci,. 6, OR. 1. Ilexandruimonogynia. NaT. OR. CpTonarite. 



This generic name is adopted from the Indian appellation. . 



Gen. chae. ^There is no calyx ; the cyrolla is belUshsipetl, six-partecl, cohering by 

 the claws ; .segments; ovate, Tcry large, spreading ; the .stamens are six very short 

 filaments, thicker abnve, reflexed ; anthers vei-y small ; the pistil has an oblong 

 germ, bluntly three-sided, longer than the staipens ; no style; stigma three- 

 grooved, obtuse, with bifid segments, pervious ; the pericarp is an oblong berry, 

 obscurely six-cornered, fleshy, punched with a little hole between the stigmas, 

 six-celled; partiiions liiree tnickcp and three thinner, and menjbranaceous dia- 

 phragms forming cells i'or each seed ; seeds flattish, incumbent, fastened to the 

 inner angle ot' each ceil. There are four species, natives of America, ail of which 

 have been intrcducod, and lijrive remarkably- well in Jamaica. 



1. GLOfUPSO. . SUPERB. 



Leaves quite entire.-. 



This seldoiiT- rises v\ith a stem-above two feet and half or three feet high, wliich has 

 leiives almost to tlie ground, which are^broad, stiff, and have the appearance of tiiose 

 of. the aloe, but are,-ii:t\n:c.)wer,. of a dark green colonr, ending in a iaarp black spine.- 

 It frequently produces its, panicles of flowers from the centre of th,e leaves j the flower 

 stalk is three feet high,- branching out on ever\' side to a considerable distance, but the 

 flowers are placed very sparingly on the stalk, which renders it less beautifnl than the 

 other sorts. _ The flowers are white within, but each petal is marked with a jxirphj 

 stripe oil. the outside ; they are bell-shaped, and hang downward. 



2, AL01FOLIA, ALOF.-LEAVED. 



Leaves crer.ulate,., strict. 



This rises with a thick tough fleshy stalk, to the height of ten or twelve feet, lia\'ing 

 a head or tuft of the leaves at the t 'p ; these are narrower and stifl'er than those of the 

 former Aort, and ? of a lighter green colour ; their edges are slightly serrate, and 

 their points end in sharp thorns. The flower stalk rises in the centre of the leaves, and 

 is from two to three feet. long, branching out into a pyramidal form ; the flowers grovy 

 close on the branches, and form a regular spike ; they ate of a bright purple colour tin- 

 the outside, and white within, making a .fine appearance. Whenever they ap])ear the 

 head decays, but one or two young heads come out from the side of the stalk below the 

 old one. 



3. DRACOMS, dragon's. 



Leaves crenate, nodding.- 

 This has a stem. tlwee or four feet high; leaves narrow, dark green, hanging down, 

 serrate, and ending in acute.spines. The flowers pendulous, milk-white, with a strong 

 unpleasant smell, about one hundred and fifty on a thyrse ; seed vessel tJiree-celled j 

 eeds horny, .wrinkled, blackish when ripe. 



4. FILAMEKTOSA. THREADY. 



Leares senate, thready. 



T\,i 



