158 



AMARYLLIDACE^. 



[Endogens 



But the most important product of Agave, and especially of A. Americana, the 

 species now most common in the South of Europe, is the sap, which exudes upon 

 the cutting out of the inner leaves, just before the flower-scape is ready to bm'st 

 forth. Of this a very full account is given by Humboldt, in his Political History of 

 New Spain, book iv. c. i). The species is A. Americana, called metl by the Mexicans, 

 and ]\laguay de Cociuza in Caraccas. Pittes and maguey-metl are varieties of A. 

 Amei'icana,'which is stated to be common everywhere in ^Equinoctial America, from 

 the plams even to elevations of between 9000 and 10,000 feet. A. Mexicana is also, 

 by some authors, called maguei-metl, and also manguai ; and A. Vivipara is theo- 

 metl or manguei divinum. In Cumana and Caraccas, A. Cubensis is called maguey 

 de Cocay. Humboldt hiforms us, that the first (A. Mexicana) is extensively culti- 

 vated in the interior table-land of Mexico, and, indeed, extends as far as the Aztec 

 language. The juice of the Agave is of a very agreeable sour taste. It easily fer- 

 ments on account of the mucUage and sugar it contains, when it is called pulque 

 by the Spaniards. This vinous beverage, which resembles cider, has an odour of 

 jnitrid meat, extremely disagreeable ; but the Eiu'opeans, who have been able to get 

 over the aversion which this fetid odour inspires, prefer the pulque to every other 

 liquor. A very intoxicating brandy is formed from the pulque, wliicli is called 

 mexical or aguardiente de maguey. The government drew from the Agave juice a net 

 revenue of £166,497 in three cities." — Boyle. Agave saponaria is a powerful detergent ; 

 its roots are employed m Mexico as a substitute for soap. A cold infusion of the leaves 

 of Chffiradodia Chilensis is pm'gative and dim'etic ; it is called Thekel, in Cliile. — Molina. 



GENERA. 



Tribe I. — Amaryllese. 

 Bulbs, n'ithout a coro- 

 net in the Jloicer. 



Galanthus, Linn. 



9 Erangelia, Reneahn. 

 Leiicojum, Linn. 



Nivaria, Monch. 

 Acis, Salisb. 

 Erinosma, Herb. 

 Lapiedra, Lagasc. 

 Carpolyza, Salisb. 



Hessea, Berg. 

 Gethyllis, L. 



Papiria, Thunb. 

 Ixiolirion, Fisch. 

 Bravoa, Llav. 



Ccetocapnia, Lk.et Otto. 

 Stembergia, Waldst. ct 

 Kit. 

 Oporanthus, Herb. 

 Hajlockia, Herb. 

 Cooperia, Herb. 



Sceptranthus , Grab. 

 Amaryllis, Linn. 



Lilio-Narcissus, Tour. 



Belladonna, Sweet. 



Callirhoe, Link. 

 ZephjTanthes, Herb. 

 ArgjTopsis, Herb. 

 PjTolirion, Herb. 

 Habrantbus, Herb. 

 Sprekelia, Heist. 

 Hippeastrum, Herb. 



Amaryllis, Sweet. 



Coburgia, Herb. 



Leopoldia, Herb. 

 Vallota, Herb. 

 Lycoris, Herb. 

 Strumaria, Jacq. 

 Hessea, Herb. 

 Nerine, Herb. 



Galathea, Herb. 

 Brunsvigia, Hcister. 

 Imhofia, Herb. 

 Bupbane, Herb. 



Boophane, Herb. 

 Ammocharis, Herb. 

 Griffinia, Ker. 

 Crinum, Linn. 

 Haemanthus, Linn. 



Tristegia, Rchb. 



Poli/siegia, Rcbb. 

 Cyrtanthus, Ait. 



Timmia, Gmel. 



Curtanthtis, Herb. 



Monella, Herb. 

 Gastronema, Herb. 



Coleophyllum, Klotsch. 



Tribe II. — Narcissese. 

 Bulbs, with a coro7iet 

 in the flower. 



Phycella, Lindl. 

 Placea, Miers. 

 Eucrosia, Ker. 

 Carpodetes, Herb. 



Liperiza, Herb. 

 Calliphruria, Herb. 

 Eurycles, Salisb. 



Proiphys, Herb. 

 Calostemma, R. Br. 

 Vagaria, Herb. 

 Tapeinanthus, Herb. 

 Chlidanthus, Herb. 

 Clinanthus, Herb. 

 Urceolina, Rchb. 



Urceolaria, Herb. 



Collania, Schultz. 

 Coburgia, Sweet. 

 Pbfedranassa, Herb. 

 Stenomesson, Herb. 



Chrysiphiale, Ker. 



Sphcerotele, Presl. 

 Elisena, Herb. 



Liriope, Herb. 



Li ri apsis, Rchb. 

 Pancratium, Linn. 

 Hymenocallis, Salisb. 



Schizostephanium, 



Rchb. 



Halmyra, Salisb. 



Tiaranthus, Herb. 

 Choretis, Herb. 

 Ismene, Herb. 



Callithaume, Herb. 

 Narcissus, Linn. 



Ajax, Haw. 



Diomedes, Haw. 



Queltia, Haw. 



Schizanthes, Haw. 



Ganymedes, Haw. 

 Philogyne, Haw. 

 Hermione, Haw. 

 a. Jonquillia, DC. 

 /3. Tazetta, DC. 

 Chloraster, Haw. 

 Corbularia, Hau'. 



Tribein.— Alstromeriesp. 

 Fibrous rooted. Sepals 

 different in form from 

 the petals. 



Chasradodia, Herb. 

 Alstromeria, L. 

 Collania, Herb. 

 Sphasrine, Herb. 

 Bomarea, Mirb. 



Tribe lY. — Agaveae. 



Fibrous rooted. Sepals 



and petals alike. 

 Clivia, Lindl. 



Imatophyllum, Hook. 



Himantophyllnm, Spr. 

 Campynema, Labill. 



Campylonema , Poir. 

 Doryanthes, Correa. 

 Agave, L. 

 Littaea, Tagl. 



Bonapartea, W. 

 Fourcroya, Vent. 



Numbers. Gen. 68. Sp. 400. 



Melanthacece. 

 Position.— Iridacefe.—AMARYLLiDACE.E.—Hypoxidace^. 

 Liliacece. 



