149. AMARYLLIBACE.E. [1. Agave. 



sinuate and bearing the mostly reflexed spines on the eminences, 

 apical spine 1-2" long. 



It is a common oniamental plant in gardens througliout the province, and is 

 said to be the species from which the Mexican drink " pulque " is prepared (from 

 the scapes). 



Tnmk short stout usually hidden by the thick leaf bases. L. lanceolate, many 

 in a lax rosette, sometimes rather glaucous, spreading at base, then ascending, 

 and finally with tips often recurved, 4-6 ft. long and up to 1 ft. broad above the 

 middle (the ^^^dest part). Marginal spines strong dark broAra, margins becoming 

 involute for about' 3" from the tip and hardening, ultimately hornv and forming 

 the terminal sUghtly grooved dull brown l-2"-long spine. Scape with panicle 

 35-25 ft. high, primary branches almost horizontal, fascicles of fls. crowded at 

 the ends of subsidiary ascending branches. Ovary faintly sulcate, about equalling 

 perianth or shorter. Tepals ovate lanceolate, tips obtuse, amber-coloured as 

 are fll. ; pollen orange ; style faintly 3-lobed. Capsule bluntly 3-gonous or 

 oblong-cj-lindrical, rather broader upwards. 



2. A. vera-cruz, Miller. Syn. A. cantula, Beng. PI. ; Muraba, K., S. 



Murba, murga are common vernacular names for agaves, aloes, 

 etc. Mordha is also given as a vern. name in the Notes. 

 A stout plant usually producing numerous shoots from the rhizome, 

 which render it polycarpic. Leaves very deep green and glaucous, 

 linear-oblong, 4-6 ft. long and attaining 10" in width, scarcely con- 

 stricted above the base, margins not or only slightlj^ sinuate, apical 

 spine • 5-1" long, dark brown. 



Tirhut, in hedges, D. & P. More or less naturalized in Singbhum (e. g. near 

 Anjedbera) ! Hazaribagh, Daltonganj (Palamau), etc. ! Balasore ' Fl. Sept - 

 Dec. 



Tnmk short, hidden by the thick leaf bases. L. often rather concave at the 

 widest part (just above the middle), early curving upwards and ends more or less 

 recurved, sage-green, interval between spines -5" or less, rarelv -75", marginal 

 spines spreading or decurved, black or dark-coloured. Main branches of panicle 

 3-chotomous, curved or flattened. Fls. in pairs with a subsidiarv bud laterally 

 developed at a different level ; tepals linear-lanceolate, pale ainber tint, cup 

 herbaceous, anthers -5" and more, much exserted, pollen dark vellow. Ovary 

 smooth cylindiic longer than perianth, style very faintly lobed. Capsules rather 

 tiu-gid, oblong-cylindric, tip rounded, seeds black, shining. 



3. A. cantula, Roxh. 



Leaves in a lax but even tuft from a short ascending rhizome, 

 pale-green, older darker, sometimes glaucous, attaining 4 ft. or more, 

 but usually only 2-25" broad, rarely over 3" at the widest part (just 

 above the middle), apical spine usually acicular, -5-1" long, reddish 

 or dark brown, marginal spines conspicuous falcate pointingfor wards, 

 • 25" or more and very sharp. Flowers 1-2 together, tepals 1 • 5", 

 linear-oblong obtuse, greenish-yellow. 



Tirhut, D. & P. Cultivated at Hazaribagh Jail, Wood. Cultivated at Sam- 

 balpur ! 



L. linear-lanceolate, very narrow, curving gradually outwards from the mode- 

 rately thick base, or in weak specimens bent over almost from the base, upper 

 siu-face more or less concave, sometimes trough-shaped in the lower portion, 

 marginal prickles always ascending, pale brown or ganiet-coloured, from a small 

 light-coloured cushion. Scape with panicle 12-18 ft. Irigh, inflorescence on flexuous 

 rather slender branches, fascicles 1-2-fld. Ovary equal or shorter than perianth. 

 Tepals bluntly linear-lanceolate, 1-5", or linear-oblong, greenish yellow, obtuse, free 

 almost to their bases, 1-5" long, cup hardly any. 



1105 



