138 CONTBIBUTIONS FBOM THE NATIONAL HEBBABIUM. 



2. Nolina microcarpa S. Wats. Proc. Amer. Acad. 14: 247. 1879. 



Type locality: "S. Arizona (Rock Canon; Rothrock, n. 278)." 



Range: Southwestern New Mexico to southern Arizona and southward. 



New Mexico: Mimbres River; Big Hatchet Mountains; Silver City; San Luis 

 Mountains; Dog Mountains; Burro Mountains; Mogollon Creek; Lake Valley; Mag- 

 dalena Mountains. Dry plains and low hills, in the Lower and Upper Sonoran zones. 



A specimen collected by Bailey at San Rafael probably belongs here, although the 

 margins of the leaves have much fewer teeth. 



The leaves of this plant were used by the Indians in former times in weaving bas- 

 kets and mats. They also furnish a fairly good quality of fiber, which may some day 

 be utilized in making cordage. 



3. DASYLIRION Zucc. Sotol. 



Dioecious perennials with thick short stems, numerous strap-shaped spiny-margined 

 leaves, and very numerous small white flowers borne in tall narrow panicles. 



The bases of the leaves form a round head about the thick stems, when the ends have 

 been cut or burned off, and these are used for feeding stock. These heads are roasted 

 by the native people and used for food and for the manufacture of a drink called 

 "sotol" which contains from 40 to 50 per cent of alcohol. It has been found practi- 

 cable to manufacture commercial alcohol from the plant. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



Prickles of the leaves mostly recurved; leaves green 1. D. leiophyllum. 



Prickles of the leaves directed forward; leaves somewhat glaucous.. 2. D. wheeled. 



1. Dasylirion leiophyllum Engelm.; Trel. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 50: 433. 1911. 

 Type locality: Presidio, Texas. 



Range: Western Texas to southern New Mexico and southward. 

 New Mexico: Central; Florida Mountains; Big Hatchet Mountains. Dry hills, 

 in the Lower Sonoran Zone. 



2. Dasylirion wheeleri S. Wats, in Wheeler, Rep. U. S. Surv. 100th Merid. 6: 



272. 1879. 



Type locality: Southern Arizona. 



Range: Western Texas to southern Arizona. 



New Mexico: San Mateo Mountains; Kingston; Mangas Springs; Big Hatchet 

 Mountains; San Luis Mountains; Rincon; mesa near Las Cruces; Organ Mountains; 

 White Mountains. Dry hills, in the Lower and Upper Sonoran zones. 



22. CONVALLAKIACEAE. Lily- of- the- valley Family. 



Perennial herbs arising from rootstocks, never with bulbs or conns; leaves alternate 

 (in ours cauline), sometimes reduced to scales; flowers perfect, in terminal racemes or 

 panicles or axillary in small clusters; perianth segments distinct or more or less united 

 at the base; pistil 3-parted; fruit a fleshy berry. 



key to the genera. 



Leaves reduced to scales; branches numerous, filiform 1. Asparagus (p. 139). 



Leaves not reduced; stems sparingly branched or simple, 

 not filiform. 



Perianth segments united into a tube 2. Salomonia (p. 139). 



Perianth segments distinct. 



Flowers in terminal racemes or panicles 3. Vagnera (p. 139). 



Flowers terminal or opposite the leaves, solitary 

 or in few-flowered clusters. 



Flowers in terminal, few-flowered clusters 5. Disporum (p. 140). 



Flowers solitary opposite the leaves 4. Streptopus (p. 139). 



