THE AMERICAN BOTANIST, 75 



branches. At first the bulbils are elliptical in shape with 

 the tip quite sharp but as the}' ripen, if we ma^' use the 

 word, two or three of the topmost leaves lengthen until 

 they protrude two inches or more beyond the point ; and 

 so when the little plant falls to the ground it virtuahy has 

 -a. good six months' start in life alreadj-. 



Since the flowers are few as compared to the number 

 of bulbils, and since they never produce seed, it will be a 

 question of only a few hundred centuries, I suppose, 

 ^according to the laws ol heredity and Darwinism, ^vhen 

 this "giant liW" will bear no flowers at alL 



A 40-foot stalk of only a few inches diameter and 

 -carrj'ing 50 pounds or more of bulbils, even when strung 

 with first-class hemp (as it is), is liable to be broken in a 

 strong wind and so be lost the labor of j^ears. To miti- 

 gate this disaster when it does occur, the desperate and 

 dying plant sends out numerous suckers around the point 

 of breakage, and each of these may grow into a goodly 

 plant if it should happen to be broken off and fall into a 

 favorable spot. But if the peduncle be cut or broken before 

 it has seriously drawn upon the plant's vitality, from three 

 to six or more small peduncles will soon start out from the 

 uninjured portion of the stem. The Furcroea gigantea 

 provides itself against all possible disasters. 



The inside portion of the flower-stem is a soft white 

 pith containing yellowish * 'strings," or bundles of the 

 vascular fibres. Pieces of this pith are commonly us€d by 

 the natives here for razor hones. The fibre is turned to 

 many uses, but principally to the making of cordage and 

 hammocks ; it ranks but little lower than Sisal or Yuca- 

 tan hemp. From being extensively cultivated in the island 

 of Mauritius it has received the market name of "Mauri- 

 tius Hemp." It is worth about six cents per pound. 



Thus wins the largest century plant in the strenuous 

 struggle for life in the war of circumstances. 



Mayaguez, Porto Fico. 



