MORPHOLOGICAL NOTES. 45 
genera are of climbing habit is taken note of by all the authors 
as if it were of some significancy; and we are predisposed to 
think it ought to have some weight. But to place any great 
dependence upon it is inconsistent altogether with the accep- 
tance of Senecio as now limited; a genus in which species of 
climbing mode of growth are somewhat numerous. But even 
the style-branches present greater diversity by far, within 
Senecio as now received, than is found within the whole 
suborder here under consideration. So that M. Baillon who, 
giving to Senecio its broadest boundaries, also merges all the 
genera named above, besides many more, in Eupatorium, is 
perhaps the only consistent man among all those who within 
the last twenty-five years have made special study of these 
plants. However, before this can be affirmed quite positively, 
one must enquire whether the conventional Senecio presents 
equal diversities in form of corolla, and whether its achenes 
display as many incongruities. But the discussion of the 
achenes and pappus of Eupatoriacee must form a future 
chapter of these Observations. 
MORPHOLOGICAL NOTES. 
By S. B. Paxtsx. 
1. Lateral Flowering of AGAVE AMERICANA. 
THE normal manner of flowering of the Century plant is 
too well known to require more than the briefest description. 
When a plant has accumulated sufficient nutritive material in 
its massive leaves, in this climate usually when from fifteen 
to twenty years old, it throws up from the center a tall scape, 
and in the space of a few months the flowers are produced, 
and the seed ripens. The plant then dies. During all these 
years of growth the subterranean trunk continually sends out 
offshoots from axillary buds, which become independent 
plants, so that, if these are not removed, the parent becomes 
