dameda.] XL. lequminos.e. 71 



I 



Leaves linear, with rcvolule margins, about 1 in. long. Pe- 

 dicels very short 29. D. ackularis. 



Brandies spiuesceiit. Leaves ovate, lanceolate or linear, pun- • 



geut-poiuted, but scarcely Jicuminate i * 28. D. ulicma. 



Series VT. Teretifoliae. — Leaves terete or slightly compressed or rarely vertically 

 dilated totoards the top^ at le-ngth articulate on the stem^ usually short or ptnyent-pointed. 

 flowers solitary, clustered or rarely racemose. 



(See also Calamiformes.) 



Leaves crowded, glaucous, thickly conical, pithy, divaricate . - 30. D.pachyphylla. 

 leaves cylindrical, erect, the pungent point very short , . . . 31- -D. ieretifolia. 

 Leaves divaricate, very pungent. 

 Upper calyx-teeth truncate, lilaments slender. 



Bracts imbricate, longer than the pedicels 83.-0. hakeoides. 



Bracts very small. 

 Keel not much curved, obtuse (Eastern species) . . . . 32. Z>. yenistifolia. 

 Keel much curved, almost rostrate (^Ycstcru or Southern 



species). ^ 



Calyx nearly 2 lines long, with a narrow base. 



Branches straight or scarcely flexuose. Leaves lu- 



curved or spreading U. B, coUetioides, 



Branches very llcxuose. Leaves short, reflexed . . 35. i>. reversifolia. 

 Calyx about \\ line lou;r, the base very short. 



Leaves mostly \ in. long or more, often dilated up- 

 wards, at length articulate on the stem . . . . 36. D.mcrassata, 



Leaves few, rarely above i in. long, appearing like 



_ prickles, continuous with the stem 37- ^- brevtfoha. 



Upper calyx-teeth small, distinct. Filaments much dilated aud 

 cohering. 

 Leaves not crowded, mostly f to 1 in. long, slender or flat . 38. D. Preissiu ^ 

 Leaves crowded, about \ in. long, thick aud scarcely flattened 39. D. sptnosissuna. 

 Upper calyx-teeth acuminate. Filamcuts free. Racemes loose 10. D.pachylum, 



Series VIL Verticales,— Z^^,/;^^ vertically flattened, often attacked by a broad 

 ^^^e but not decurrent, nsnalhj pun a ent -pointed. Flowers solitary or clustered or urn- 

 odlate^racenwse, > J i ^ i 



Braiichlets not spineseent. 

 blowers iu a pedunculate umbel or short raceme. Leaves 



almost rhomboidal , 4^ . B, quadnlatera. 



lowers in sessile clustera or verv short racemes. 

 Leaves crowded, at least half as broad as long, attached l>y ^ ^ „ , . , 



very broad base ^2. i). striata. 



I-eavcs narrow, dilated upwards. Filaments free . . • . d(i. n.im^rassata. 

 Agaves linear, compressed. Filaments cohering .... 38. i^. l^reissn, 

 ^■eaves lanceolate, or, if ovate, contracted at the base. ' r t //^ 



^ Branches an-ular • . 43. />. polyphyla, 



^^aucMets spineseent. Flowe'rs solitar/. Leaves small . . . M. B. microphylla. 



S^aTKsVIIL Decnrrentes.-I..r.. terete or vertically compressed or with a ve^^^^ 

 fj^ dorsal projection^ usually pungent, decurreni at the_ base into raised angles on the 



c^^s. Flowers clustered or shortly racemose. 

 ^J^-es slightly decurrent. 



Sfr' '"'"'' '' '"''''^^^ "^^ ^^"'^ ' "^' '°"^' ''''"^^""^ 37 D hrevifolia. 

 I;^ves crowdVne;rlv\e;ete; aW^ .' •' ' • . %^i. B, spinosissima. 



^a^esverydecurreut. • ' ' ^ 



j-eaves terete or slightly compressed. Branchlcts very flexuose . 45. B fljlfj^^^^^ 

 ^^^^^es much compressed, lanceolate. BranchleU straight . , ^6. B. pecti^^ata. 



