[ 6 ] 



are detachable and, on reaching the ground, commence an 

 independent cycle of existence. Once the vegetative cone has 

 formed in a bulbil, it is independent of the parent, as has 

 been observed in several instances where the old plant had 

 been killed and the pole was decaying; an example was seen 

 by us near Calcutta on the 10th August 1904 in the case of 

 "A. vimpara" The fruit both in Furcrsea and Agave when 

 it ripens is a three-celled rather woody capsule, with a green 

 or black rind, packed with numerous horizontal flat seeds of a 

 shiny black, or in some species opaque. Its shape is various, 

 from a depressed sphere to an oblong cylinder; sometimes 

 it is furrowed or three-cornered. 



For the embryo of Agave we quote Engelmann (I.e., 

 p. 305): 



" The filiform, cylindric, or slightly compressed embryo is as long 

 " as the hard whitish semi-transparent, farinaceous and oily albumen. 

 "In germination the seed-shell is elevated above the ground on top of 

 "the largely developed foliaceous cotyledon, contrary to the behaviour 

 "of Yucca where the husk enclosing the small and soon decaying coty- 

 ''ledon remains buried in the ground." 



"We have not seen the embryo in Furcraea or any account 

 of it. 



We have made no reference above to the colour of the 

 leaves of the Indian Agaveae, because this can best be handled 

 in the descriptive list which follows ; but the following 

 general remarks may be found useful : the prevailing colour 

 of the upper surface of the leaf-blade in Euagave is a deep 

 " sap green ;' J the under side is commonly the same, but a shade 

 or more lighter. In A. decipiens,* Baker the whole leaf is of 

 a bright glossy apple green, which is unusual. In different 

 species the ground colour of the leaf is tinged with obscure 

 shades of grey, or dull blue ; and the edges may be parti- 

 coloured, or the leaf striped with pale ' ribbons.' Several species 

 have a bloom, on the young leaves especially, and in A. Vera- 

 Crnz this is frequently so marked and permanent, even in old 

 plants, that the leaves are termed "glaucous." In A. Cantala 

 the green is much lighter and less "sappy" than in the 

 " americanae " but the tint is different from the vivid green of 

 " decipiens." 



* This if not identical with A. Ixtli, S-arwimJci is very near it. 



