52 ERYTHEA. 
wing, etc., the reader comparing these characters with the 
salient features of the firs (Abies) to wit:—Symmetrical 
trees, their branches usually horizontal in regular whorls: 
leaves sessile; cones erect, lateral, nearly cylindrical, their 
numerous scales deciduous; seeds angular, gland-bearing, 
nearly covered by the base of the large, broad wing, etc.; 
would have had presented before him the most convincing 
reasons for classing our western tree with the Spruces and 
not with the Firs. 
Mr. Parisu’s account, given on page 45 preceding, of abnor- 
mal flowering in an offshoot of Agave Americana, has recalled 
to mind a more remarkable instance which fell under my 
own observation in the Pinos Altos Mountains, New Mexico, 
some twelve years since. ‘The species was A. Parryt, and 
the plant a wild one, on its native mountain slope. In this 
case the mature central and parental member of the cluster of 
plants, on coming into flower, had communicated its flori- 
ferous energy to all the offspring, great and small-—and there 
were eight or ten of them—each one of which bore at the 
same time its scape of flowers. Of course the career of the 
whole family circle was thus brought to a close simultaneously 
with that of the patriarchal centre of it; for it is in the nature 
of the Agaves to die immediately they, have once flowered 
and perfected their seeds. Epw. L. GREENE. 
