List oF SPECIES 
The species are listed alphabetically, using the correct 
scientific names. Other names which have achieved a 
wide usage in the literature are in some cases cited in 
parentheses; these may be synonyms or names properly 
belonging to other species. No attempt has been made 
to list all of the common names; these may be sought 
in various works listed in the bibliography, particularly 
those by Standley and by some of the Mexican authors. 
For the sake of brevity, the number system of citation is 
used; and, for the convenience of the reader, the more 
recent or more comprehensive studies are indicated by 
an asterisk in the citations which follow the discussion 
of each species or group. 
Achras: see Manilkara. 
Agave: Metl, maguey, henequén. 
The species of Agave are, to the present day, of great 
importance in Mexico as sources of food, drink and fiber. 
Among the Aztecs they entered directly and indirectly 
into religion, and it has been suggested (182) that the 
name, Mexico, may be derived from the Nahuatl word 
metl, which is a generic term for agaves and other plants 
of similar appearance. Among the species anciently 
grown in central Mexico for aguamiel and pulque are 
A. atrovirens Karw., which is the most important spe- 
cies, with many variations recognized by the growers, 
A. latissima Jacobi and A. mapisaga 'Trel. The types 
now used as a source of distilled beverages, such as 4. 
tequlana Weber, were no doubt used in pre-Columbian 
times at least for food, but may not have been cultivated. 
Since both the cultivation and the uses of the pulque 
agaves center in central Mexico, where the species used 
seem to be native, these cultivated plants may be con- 
sidered as having originated in that region. 
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