— 355 — 



history as a reversion, variegation as a latent possibility in A<jace 

 appears to be indicated to a close observer now and then in the 

 presence of an occasional isolated, sometimes very short, etiolated 

 ray on otherwise green leaves of species in which other variegation 

 is unknown. Such lines have been recorded by M. Roland- 

 Gosselin'i for .1. applanata, A. affenuata, A. ferox, and A. Ixtli 

 [fotircrojides^l. A small plant of a rough-leaved species doubtfully 

 referred to A. asperrhna, from Chalchihutes, Mexico, recently received 

 at the Missouri Botanical Garden, shows on one leaf an impressed 

 white dorsal line at one side of the middle, which is of this 

 character, and most of the 18 bulbil-plants of A. foi(rcro!/des to 

 which reference has been made above show such lines now 

 and then. 



From the behavior of the fourcroi/des variegation it may be 

 anticipated that variegated offsets will sooner or later be secured 

 from any of these individuals. The recorded occurrence of occasional 

 seedlings perpetuating other variegated Agaves and Yuccas also 

 suggests that some of the green seedlings of such plants may be 

 expected later to sport into pronounced variegations. 



These incipient variegation marks, as they appear to be, are 

 sometimes disconnected from the base of the leaf; but the fact that 

 they are occasionally found on more than one leaf öf the plant 

 suggests their real origin in the cauline meristem, as is the case 

 with variegated pears (Verlot) and, conspicuously, with Ficus 

 FarcelVi. The occurrence of a number of bulbils with such markings 

 on one plant of .1. fonvcroydes, which had not been observed to 

 have even these slight variegations (though such could easiiy have 

 been overlooked), prompts the question whether the bulbils were 

 indiscriminately scattered through the panicle or came from one 

 of its branches only, — a question which cannot be answered 

 now; but it strengthens the assumption of a cauline origin for 

 the etiolation. The Observation of a single line of this character 

 only, on a Single leaf, therefore Warrants the hope that has been 

 expressed of its reappearance, perhaps in a more marked form, 

 later in the life of the individual, or in its descendants, either vege- 

 tative or seminal. 



M. Roland-Gosselin, speaking of A. americana, has 

 suggested that suckers from a plant with variegated leaves will be 



') Kev. Hort. 71: 255. (1899). 



23* 



