AMARYLLIDACEJE. [AGAVE. 



A. sisalana,, Perrine : D. and P. I. c. (under letter G), p. 89. 

 True Sisal. 



The sisal -hemp was first known as a cultivated plant in Yucatan in 

 1834, whence it was introduced to Florida and there naturalized. 

 From Florida it was brought to the W. India Islands and thence to 

 India during the years 1885-1892. Its native country is not known 

 for certain. It is cultivated in many parts of India as far north 

 as Lahore, also in C. India, Bombay, Bengal, Mysore and Madras, 

 also in Burma. Outside India it is grown in Australia, Fiji, Hawai 

 and E. Africa. Leaves 20-35, oblong-lanceolate, deep-green or some- 

 times glaucous, up to 6 ft. long, never forming a rosette, but closely 

 tufted on the rhizome or on a short ascending caudex, neck not at 

 all constricted ; margins with or without prickles which, if present, 

 are weak scattered and pale-coloured ; terminal spine not channelled, 

 glossy, purple or dark-brown. 



A. sp. D. and P. I. c. page 90 (under letter H). 



The finest of the naturalized Indian species of Agave. It is the large 

 species which was wrongly named A. lurida at Saharanpur. Vern. 

 Rambanskeom. It is regarded by D. and P. as closely allied to the 

 Sisalana group. It occurs in many parts of Bengal and in the 

 Gangetic Plain as far north as Saharanpur where it has run wild in 

 the Botanical Gardens. It flourishes under the same condition as 

 A. Wightii and is often found with it in the same hedge. It is cul- 

 tivated also in Dehra Dun, Lucknow, Madras and Burma and often 

 becomes naturalized in hedges. Its native country is not known. 

 The freshly cut leaves have the scent of rhubarb. More information 

 is required as to the quality of the fibre. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 

 not forming a rosette, the inner ascending from the stout caudex, 

 the, ends recurved for about ^ of the total length and drooping, dull 

 dark-green, often glaucous, reaching 7 ft. in length and 10 in. in 

 breadth at the widest part ; marginal prickles distant, stout, falcate, 

 yellow-brown from a broad pale cushion ; terminal spine not de- 

 current, stout, slightly recurved. 



A. \\ightii, D. and P. 1. c. page 91 (under letter J) A. vivipara, 

 Wight Ic. 2024 ; Baker Gard. Chron. N. S. VIII (1877), 780 excl. 

 all syn. except Wight, not of Linn, nor of others). Agave Cantula, 

 Dabz. & Gibs. Bomb. Fl. (not of Roxb.). 



Vern. BdnsJceora (Saharanpur). Small Aloe of India. Cultivated and 

 naturalized in the Upper Gang. PI. at Moradabad, in Dehra Dun, 

 Saharanpur Bot. Gard., and from Delhi northwards to Ludhiana. 

 It is the only Agave in N. India which develops a conspicuous trunk. 



