

Plate 2501 



FURCRJEA MACEOPHYLLA, Baker. 

 Amarylltde^:. Tribe Agaves. 

 F. macrophylla, Baker (sp. nov.); species ex affinitate F. cubetisis 



et F. Se/hre, sed multo major. 



^ Caudex brevis, 1-2 ped. altus. Folia dense rosulata, ensiformia, 

 rigide coriacea, viridia, 6-7 ped. longa, medio 3-5 poll, lata, tasi 2 poll. 

 lata et 1^ poll, crassa, e medio ad apicem et basin attenuata, pi ope 

 basin valde incrassata, costa faciali prominente pnedita, facie laevia, 

 dorso scabra, aculeis marginalibus remotis magnis uncinatis pungenti- 

 bus apice corneis rubro-brunneis. Flores in paniculam laxam amplam 

 deltoid earn dispositi ; intforescentia cum pedunculo 25-30 ped. longa, 

 ramulis fructiferis et bulbilliferis. Perianthii segmenta, lineari- obloiura, 

 ovario aequilonga. Stamina quam perianthium triplo breviora, iila- 

 mentis valde incrassatis. Ovarium cylindricum, glabrum, sursum 

 attenuatum, 1 poll, longum. Frvctus oblongus, trisulcatus, 2 poll, 

 longus et 1 poll, diametro. 



West Indies or Central America. 



This plant is known only from the Bahamas. Leaves of it were 

 sent toKew in 1889 by Mr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., Superintendent of the 

 Royal Botanic Gardens at Trinidad, who had received them from the 

 Bahamas, through Sir William Robinson, Governor of the Colony and 

 formerly also of the Bahamas. At the beginning of 1896, Dr. Morris, 

 during a short visit to the Bahamas, made a collection of leaves, 

 flowers, fruit, and bulbils of this interesting plant, thus supplying 

 full material for its description. He found it only in the island of 

 New Providence, as a garden plant. It is probable, therefore, that it 

 has been introduced into the Bahamas, and is not a native of those 

 islands. When fully developed, the plant is of a very striking 

 character. It is the largest species of Xurcrma known. So far it 

 has not been cultivated for its fibre. Dr. Morris also brought with 



i 



him fifty young plants, which are now under cultivation at Kew. — 



J. G. Baker, 



Fig. 1, plant, about jk of natural size; 2, leaf; 3, hullil; 4, flower from 

 which the perianth has been removed ; 6, stamen; 6, pifctil; 7, capsule. — 1, 4, 



5 and 6 larged\ 2 reduced) 3 and 7 nai rtd size. 





EKIKS IV. VOL. VI. PART I. 



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