1. Agave.] 149. AMARYLLIDACE^. 



4. A. sisalana, Perrine. Sisal Hemp. 



Rhizome sometimes ascending, hidden by the leaf-bases. Leaves 

 closely tufted, not at all constricted above the moderately thick base, 

 deep green, glaucous or not, up to 6 ft. in length and 10" in breadth, 

 marginal prickles 0, or if present weak scattered and pale. 



Introduced into Tirhnt, Eanchi Jail, the Santal Parganas, etc., for the sake 

 of its fibre. Tt is stated that a somewhat poor land of a loose stony nature is best 

 suited to produce good fibre. 



L. not forming a rosette, but closely tufted on the rhizome or on a very short 

 ascending caudex completely hidden by their moderately thick bases, inner making 

 a very sharp angle with the axis, the outer gradually receding, but still making 

 less than a right angle, widest part just above the middle ; terminal spine not 

 channelled, glossy, purple or dark bro^ni. Scapes with the panicle 15 ft. or more, 

 fascicles of fls. rather crowded, ovary equal or shorter than perianth, slightly 

 broadened upwards. Base of per. convex and somewhat dilated, limb suddenly 

 contracted, segments narrowly ligulate, tip shghtly hooded. Style long, stigma 

 faintly lobed. 



5. A. Wightii, Dr. Sf Prain. Syn. A. vivipara, Wight. 



Leaves ensiform linear-lanceolate, very many, forming a stiff even 

 rosette 3-5 ft. diam., pale green often tinged with ashy grey, base 

 thin, broadly amplexicaul, attaining 3 ft. in length, but not usually 

 more than 2 • 5" Avide, fiat or very slightly convex. Marginal prickles 

 rather weak about • 75" aj^art, spreading or erect, terminal spine 

 about -5", pale, slightly decurrent. 



Tirhut (Tarkaulia), D. & P. 



Trunk stout, usually conspicuous, ascending throughout or partly procumbent 

 L. sometimes attaining 3-5" in width at the middle (the widest part), marginal 

 prickles usually consisting of a small brown cushion carrying a semi-transparent 

 garnet-coloured spine which is often sharply recurved parallel to the leaf edge, but 

 ends in a finely barbed hook which invariably points upwards. Scape 12-15 ft. high 

 with the oblong-pyramidal panicle, main branches short 3-chotomous, fascicles 

 rather crowded. Ovary nearly spindle-shaped, rather shorter than the perianth 

 and constricted below 'it. Per. -cup soon dividing into lanceolate segments, each 

 ending in a narrowly ovate lanceolate limb which is slightly thickened at the obtuse 

 tip and (in dried specs.) obscurely hooded, greenish yellow. Capsule broA\Ti, very 

 broadly turbinate, 1-25-1 -5" long, rostrate by the hardened bases of the tepals. 

 Seeds opaciue dull black. 



2. FURCRCEA, Vent. 



Habit of Agave, stem erect, often elongated and marked with the 

 scars of fallen leaves. Leaves densely clustered, spinose-dentate or 

 entire. Perianth with scarcely any tubular portion, the tepals being 

 free nearly or quite to the base and with the segments spreading and 

 more or less ovate-oblong instead of linear. Stamens at the base of 

 the tepals and shorter than these, erect, lower part of filament swollen, 

 above shortly subulate. Ovary oblong 3-celled, contracted into a 

 beak, style columnar swollen below the middle, prominently 3-angled. 

 Ovules many in each cell, 2-seriate. Cai^sule ovoid or oblong, loculi- 

 cidal. 



L F. gigantea, Vent. Mauritius Hemp. 



A noble-looking plant when well grown with large vivid green 

 leaves 6 ft. and more long, scarcely armed, and immense panicles of 

 greenish pendulous flowers, attaining 30 ft. in height. 



1106 



