stig 
« - \ 
Noa 55 » : ‘ , 
“Reave] °~Ss AMARYLLIDACE. 243 
gather concave at the widest part which is above the middle, neck 
hardly constricted ; marginal prickless broad, stout, blackish, spread- 
ing or decurved ; terminal spine 4-1 in. long, dark-brown. 
A. Cantala, Roxb. Hort. Beng. 25; D. and P. (under E.), page 
87. A. Cantula, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii, 167; not of Dalz. and Gibs. 
which is A. Wightti, nor of Prain which is A. Vera-Cruz, Miller. 
Naturalized in many parts of India, extending from C. India to 
both E. and W. coasts to the N. W. Gangetic Plain and to the Sub- 
Siwalik tracts as far as the Ravi, absent in the arid strip between 
Gwalior and Delhi, where another species, the so-called A. mexicana, 
has found its way. (See under letter F in D. & P. IL. c. p. 88.) 
It is also found in Burma. Its native country is not known for 
certain. This appears to be the first Agave to reach India, and it 
came probably from the Pacific coast of C. America. The fibre 
exported from Bombay with that of other species is often wrongly 
named A. viviyara. The freshly cut leaves smell like rhubarb.— 
Leaves linear-lanceolate in a lax but even tuft from a short 
ascending rootstock, pale-green or sometimes glaucous, very narrow 
in proportion to their length (4 ft. or more), the greatest width 
just above the middle being about 3 in., curving outwards 
gradually from their bases or bent over almost from their origin ; 
upper surface more or! ess concave, sometimes trough-shaped in 
lower poftions; marginal prickles large, alcate, always ascending. 
} in. or more long, very sharp, pale-brown or garnet-coloured, from 
a small light-coloured cushion ; terminal spine, acicular, cylindrical, 
reddish or dark brown } in. long. 
A. sp. (F) D. and P, |. c. pages 88 and 101. 
According to D. and. P. this species seems to be intermediate between 
A. Cantala and the Sisalana series. It differs from the former 
species by its stiff upright leaves which are never involute and hardly 
concave, do not bend outwards and are seldom recurved, even at 
the tips; also the flowers are more delicate in texture. Specimens 
were sent by Mr. Gamble to the Calcutta Bot. Gard. from Dehra 
Dun under the name of A. mexicana. It is planted and has become 
naturalized in many places within the Upper Gangetic PI., and is 
often found in railway hedges in N. W. India. Its native country 
is not known. Further information is required regarding the quality 
of its fibre. Leaves tufted on a very short caudex, never forming 
a rosette, stiff erect, 4-5 ft. long, of uniform breadth and ending in 
the suddenly acuminate tip; marginal prickles distant, chestnut 
or garnet-coloured, their hooks sharp and ascending ; terminal spine 
stout, conical, $ in. long or more, brown. 
