244 AMARYLLIDACES. _ [Agave. 
A. sisalana,, Perrine: D. and P. 1. c. (under letter a), p. 89. 
True Sisal.— : 
Pee sisal-hemp was first known as a cultivated plant in Yucatan in 
1834, whence it was introduced to Florida and there naturalized. 
From Florida it was brought to the W. India Islands and thence to 
India during the years 1885-1892. Its native country is not known 
for certain. It is cultivated in many parts of India as far north 
as Lahore, also in C. India, Bombay, Bengal, Mysore and Madras, 
also in Burma. Outside India it is grown in Australia, Fiji, Hawai 
and E. Africa, Leaves 20-35, oblong-lanceolate, deep-green or some- 
times glaucous, up to 6 ft. long, never forming a rosette, but closely 
tufted on the rhizome or on a short ascending caudex, neck not at 
all constricted ; margins with or without prickles which, if present, 
are weak scattered and pale-coloured ; terminal spine not channelled, 
glossy, purple or dark-brown. 
A. sp. D. and P. l. c. page 90 (under letter #). 
‘The finest of the naturalized Indian species of Agave. It is the large 
species which was wrongly named A. lurida at Saharanpur. Vern. 
' Rambanskeora. It is regarded by D. and P. as closely allied to the 
Sisalana group. It occurs in many parts of Bengal and in the 
Gangetic Plain as far north as Saharanpur where it has run wild in 
the Botanical Gardens. It flourishes under the same condition as 
A, Wightii and is often found with it in the same hedgé. It is cul- 
tivated also in Dehra Dun, Lucknow, Madras and Burma and often 
becomes naturalized in hedges. Its native country is not known. 
The freshly cut leaves have the scent of rhubarb. More information 
is required as to the quality of the fibre. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 
not forming a rosette, the inner ascending from the stout caudex, 
the ends recurved for about t of the total length and drooping, dull 
dark-green, often glaucous, reaching 7 ft. in length and 10 in. in 
breadth at the widest part ; marginal prickles distant, stout, falcate, 
yellow-brown from a broad pale cushion ; terminal spine not de- 
current, stout, slightly recurved. 
A. Wightii, D. and P. 1. c. page 91 (under.letter 3) A. vivipara, 
Wight Ic. 2024 ; Baker Gard. Chron. N. S. VIIT (1877), 780 excel. 
all syn. except Wight, not of Linn. nor of others). Agave Cantula, 
Dabz. & Gibs. Bomb. Fl. (not of Roxb.).— 
Vern. Banskeora (Saharanpur). Small Aloe of India. Cultivated and 
naturalized in the Upper Gang. Pl. at Moradabad, in Dehra Dun, 
Saharanpur Bot. Gard., and from Delhi northwards to Ludhiana. 
It is the only Agave in N. India which develops a conspicuous trunk. 
