‘ally isolated from the mainstream 'Tarahumara and live 
east of the Guarijio (Warihio). They number tewer than 
10,000 (Burgess, 1970: 64). 
The Western Tarahumara recognize two groups of 
Agave’. They recognize the group ‘‘imé™” (subgenus 
Agave) through its leaf with terminal and marginal 
spines and through the paniculate inflorescence. The 
‘imé”” group includes: *‘galime’’ (fl. americana var. ev- 
pansa), “sa pult”” (A. bovicornuta), ““gusime™” (4. paci- 
fica), “‘o'tosi™” (CL. Shrever), and *‘ojcome™” (P. Woco- 
mahi). The introduced succulent, -floe vera (Liliaceae), 
superficially resembling the maguey plant, is not widely 
considered an *‘imé™ although it is called *‘imé me’ ta- 
gochi’. The second group (subgenus Littaea) is recog- 
nized through its leaf with a terminal spine and smooth 
margin and its racemose inflorescence. This group in- 
cludes ‘‘chahut’’ (Ll. multifilifera), rv yéchili” (A. polian- 
thiflora) and “tahué™” (A. vidmoriana). The group carries 
no generic term. Some Western ‘Tarahumara include 
“chahul” and ‘ra’yéchili”” in the ‘‘imé*” group because 
they are pit-baked and eaten. 
There isa striking similarity and contrast in the recog- 
nition of the species of .feave among the Western ‘Tara- 
humara, the Guariyio to the west and the Tarahumara 
to the east. It may be explained by the geographical 
distribution of the magueys and, in part, by the histori- 
cal past. Table Ll summarizes the names of the eight 
species of -fgave occurring in the Western ‘Tarahumara 
region. 
In subgenus Littaca, Agave multifilifera and A. Vil- 
morimana are similarly recognized and domestically used 
by all three groups. One possible explanation is that the 
“The Spanish word, ‘“mescal’’, is locally used for the plants of 
Agave, but in other parts of Mexico this term is applied to a distilled 
beverage made from the Agave plant. 
