55 



* AGAVE saponaria. 



The Soap Aloe, 



HEXANDUIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. Amaryllidace^, § Agaves. 

 AGAVE. Botanical Register, vol. 14. fol. 1145. 



A. saponaria ; acaulis, inermis, glaucescens, rbizomate crasso carnoso, foliis 

 teneris lanceolatis acuminatis semiamplexicaulibus, spica simplici, bracteis 

 acumiaatis ovario brevioribus (perianthil laciniis revolutis). Botanical 

 Register for 1838, misc. no. 141. 



A full description of this plant having been already given 

 in the present work, it is needless to repeat it. 



Mr. Skinner is related to have found it used as a substi- 

 tute for soap in Peru, where he saw it growing on a sandy- 

 plain ; it seems however to be Mexican ; and to be very 

 nearly the same as the Polianthes mexicana of Zuccarini, 

 which is described as having white flowers, and is probably 

 an allied species. That it is an Agave admits I think of no 

 doubt ; but, unlike those gigantic species with which we are 

 most familiar, it flowers readily and does not then perish, 

 but continues to grow without suffering ; in fact it is a true 

 perennial, while the others are analogous to annuals. 



If this species should furnish a fibre capable of being 

 used by the manufacturer, it will then, like the Maguey, its 

 near ally, both produce a material from which linen may be 

 woven, and assist in washing it afterwards. 



Its cultivation is very simple. When it is in a growing 

 state it should be placed in a temperature a little higher than 



* Ayavo^ admirable, in allusion to tbe many useful purposes to whicb the 

 genus is applicable. 



