AGAVE.] AMARYLLIDACEM. 243 



rather concave at the widest part which is above the middle, neck 

 hardly constricted ; marginal prickless broad, stout, blackish, spread- 

 ing or decurved ; terminal spine -1 in. long, dark-brown. 



A. Cantala, Roxb. Hort. Beng. 25 ; D. and P. (under E.), page 

 87. A. Cantula, Roxb. Fl 2nd. ii, 167 ; not of Dalz. and Oils. 

 which is A. Wightii, nor of Pram which is A. V era-Cruz, Miller. 



Naturalized in many parts of India, extending from C. India to 

 both E. and W. coasts to the N. W. Gangetic Plain and to the Sub- 

 Siwalik tracts as far as the Ravi, absent in the arid strip between 

 Gwalior and Delhi, where another species, the so-called A. mexicana, 

 has found its way. (See under letter F in D. & P. I. c. p. 88.) 

 It is also found in Burma. Its native country is not known for 

 pertain. This appears to be the first Agave to reach India, and it 

 came probably from the Pacific coast of C. America. The fibre 

 exported from Bombay with that of other species is often wrongly 

 named A. vivif.ara. The freshly cut leaves smell like rhubarb. 

 Leaves linear- lanceolate in a lax but even tuft from a short 

 ascending rootstock, pale- green or sometimes glaucous, very narrow 

 in proportion to their length (4 ft. or more), the greatest width 

 just above the middle being about 3 in., curving outwards 

 gradually from their bases or bent over almost from their origin ; 

 upper surface more or I ess concave, sometimes trough- shaped in 

 lower portions ; marginal prickles large, alcate, always ascending. 

 J in. or more long, very sharp, pale-brown or garnet-coloured, from 

 a small light -coloured cushion ; terminal spine, acicular, cylindrical, 

 reddish or dark brown J in. long. 



A. sp. (F) D. and P. I. c. pages 88 and 101. 



According to D. and. P. this species seems to be intermediate between 

 A. Cantala and the Sisalana series. It differs from the former 

 species by its stiff upright leaves which are never involute and hardly 

 concave, do not bend outwards and are seldom recurved, even at 

 the tips ; also the flowers are more delicate in texture. Specimens 

 were sent by Mr. Gamble to the Calcutta Bot. Gard. from Dehra 

 Dun under the name of A. mexicana. It is planted and has become 

 naturalized in many places within the Upper Gangetic PL, and ia 

 often found in railway hedges in X. W. India. Its native country 

 is not known. Further information is required regarding the quality 

 of its fibre. Leaves tufted on a very short caudex, never forming 

 a rosette, stiff erect, 4-5 ft. long, of uniform breadth and ending in 

 the suddenly acuminate tip ; marginal prickles distant, chestnut 

 or garnet -coloured, their hooks sharp and ascending ; terminal spine 

 stout, conical, J in. long or more, brown. 



