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constant types of such forms as these variegated Agaveae are not 

 adequately designated by the customary vernacular additions to 

 the generic name or the specific binomial, as are transient 

 fiorists' forms. 



Where fairiy definite tx'pes of variegation occur in a genus, 

 and are given Latinized denomination, there is great advantage 

 in having this uniformly applied to equivalent forms under its several 

 species. Though some h'ttle violence is done thereby to priority 

 ruies, in the following enumeration (aside from the uncollocated 

 A(javc picfa) the forms in which the etiolation is (1) marginal, 

 (2) median, or (3) in numerous stripes or lines, have been designated 

 respectively by the names (1) inarginata, (2) incdio-pida änd (3) striata: 

 but the synonymy under each is chronological, as to the first use 

 of each name. Though the marginal and median variegations appear 

 not to intergrade, difficulty will be found in differentiating the 

 median and striate variegations, and both dealers and purchasers 

 should understand the former of these to have the variegation 

 fairiy constant, averaging at least twice as broad as the green 

 border at either side, and with less than one-half of its own width 

 occupied by intruded stripes of green. Where the variegation 

 ranges in color from nearly white to a deep golden yellow — the 

 latter being more blanched when the plants are grown in insufficient 

 light — the color extremes, when really marked, deserve distinction, 

 and in one case have been indicated by the undesirable additional 

 expletives alha and (turca: but these color forms appear to inter- 

 grade completely, different as the extremes are. 



The species known to occur in variegated forms may be 

 separated by the following key'): 



Leaves without end spine, at most ending in a short hard biitton . . Vurcraea. 

 End spine long, strong and stout, Afjave. 



Vtifcraea. 



Leaves repand-toothed, roiigli on back: stein tall l\ Selloa. 



Leaves usnally entire and smooth : nearly stemless F. (jigantea. 



Agave. 



Inflorescence openly paniculate Eaagare. 



Inflorescence spicately contracted TAttaca. 



') It is obvions tliat resti icted keys of this sort niay be used only for the 

 Separation of the forms they are actually based on. 



