39ft DK. A. B. REXDLE— SYSTEMATIC 



Var. cALiFOiiNicA, var. nov. (PL XXXIX. tig. 15.) 



Planta habitu velut smffruticosa ; internodiis sparsissime spinosis ; foliis liaearibiis, apicem 

 versus angustatis, dentibus marginalibus numerosis laminse latitudinem ssepe hand 

 ^quantibus, s^epe excedentibus, spinis dorsalibus ssepe in nervo mediauo pro- 

 miaente continuis ; vagina dentibus conspicuis 1-3 in parte snperiore instructa. 

 Of a short bushy habit, hiternodes 1 mm. wide. Leaves 18 to 2 cm. long, of 

 variable width (about 1 mm.), with 6 to 11, generally about 9 teeth, often upwardly 

 subfalcate, on each margin, the length of which in proportion to the leaf -width is very 

 variable, being perhaps generally greater, but often less or equal. The 4 to 6 dorsal spines 

 are often united at the base, forming a narrowly winged spine-bearing midrib. The 

 single specimen seen is female, with a 3-styled ovary. Fruit absent. 

 California — (Orciitt\ Coulter, no. 188). 



Var. MEXicAXA, var. nov. (PI. XXXIX. fig. 30.) 



Atroviridis, internodiis muricatis, foliis brevibns latis curvatis irregulariter grosse-denta- 

 tis, dentibus triangulis patentibus, vagina lata dentibus 1-2 magnis instructa ; semine 

 subovoideo areolis parvis plurangulis notato. 



Internodes 1 to 2 mm. broad. Leaves 13 to 1*6 cm. long, 3 to 3"75 mm. broad, 

 including the large close-set teeth, generally with 3 prominent spines on the back. Fruit 

 subovoidly-oblong, 3 mm. long by 2 mm. broad. Seed with small but fairly distinct 

 polygonal markings. 



Mexico — Muleje (Palmer, no. 20). 



"Well characterized by the short, broad, irregularly cut, curving leaves. 



Subgenus 2. xCaulinia, A. Br. (As genus, Willd.) 

 Monoica ; testa e stratis cellnlarum induratarum tribus constructa. 



Generally more delicate plants, with less tissue-differentiation than in Mmajas, the 

 epidermis not differing in appearance from the outer layer of the cortex ; cortex of stem 

 less developed. Leaves, except at the midrib, only two cell-layers thick. Internodes 

 unarmed. Leaf-margin very variously toothed, spines almost invariably absent from 

 the back. 



§ 1. Spathaceee. — Male and female flowers iu a spathe. 

 Seed straight. 



Leaf-teeth equal iu length to leaf-width or greater ^^ indica 2. 



Leaf-teeth about half the leaf-width. 



Sheaths with short obtuse auricles N. Schweinfurt/iii, S. 



Sheaths truncate or rounded N. Welwitschii, 4. 



Leaf-teeth few and minute N, madaffascariensis, o. 



Seed curved .... \t ■ * n^ 

 i\. anctstrocarpa, 6. 



§ 2. Ame3-icaH<s.—Miile Howcrs ouly in a spathe. Leaf-sheaths sloping. 

 Anther unilocular. 



Seed smooth N. flexilis , 7 . 



^^^^^^%^ N.podostemon,^. 



